NIH Hosts 33rd Annual Asian/Pacific Islander American Heritage Program
Photos by Bill Branson

The Chinese Dancers perform “Summer Blossoms — Girls in Flowers Dance,” which exhibits flexible waist movements.
Members of the Pushpanjali School of Dance perform the traditional Indian piece, “Bharat-Natyam Classical Dance.”	Balance and control are essential elements of Indonesian dance movement.
Members of the Washington Jin Ling Chinese Dancing Academy open the 33rd annual Asian/Pacific Islander American Heritage Program on May 27 in Masur Auditorium with a performance of the “Spring Dance.”

The “Soljang-goo Dance” is performed while carrying the janggu, an hourglass-shaped drum that is the most widely used percussion instrument in traditional Korean music. The dancer/drummer is from the Washington Korean Dance Company.	The traditional Indonesian “Peacock Dance” is performed by a member of the Seni Budaya Theater Dance Association

The “Yi Minority Dance” reflects the style of the Chinese province of Yunnan.
Guests and performers alike enjoyed traditional Asian/Pacific Islander pastries, noodles and desserts following the program.

At a brief opening ceremony to the program, themed “Progress with Diversity,” several speakers elaborated on the nation’s need to live up to its ideal of equality for all. Among them were (from l) Del. Susan C. Lee (D-Montgomery County) of the Maryland House of Delegates; Dr. Hameed Khan of NICHD, who emceed the program; Dr. Richard Nakamura, NIMH deputy director; and Prahlad Mathur, president of the NIH Asian/Pacific Islander American Organization.