THIS WEEKEND/JUNE 8, 9: Experience Asia at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)

On June 8 and 9, experience Southeast Asia at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM).

Celebrate the diverse music of Southeast Asia with a series of traditional dances, live performances, instrument explorations, and more for the whole family, with activities that include instrument exploration of the Gamelan Ensemble; gallery tours of Southeast Asia led by the curator for Asia and Oceania, Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu; pop-up performances of the đàn tranh plucked zither, a popular traditional instrument of Vietnam, and Rojak Jam’s arrangements of Malaysian traditional folk songs; and more.

The schedule includes the following. All activities happen on Saturday and Sunday unless noted otherwise.

Craft: Wayang Puppet

9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Make your own traditional wayang puppet resembling a human, animal, or mythical figure. Check out the Indonesia: Gamelan exhibit to see a wayang kulit performance in action. 

 

Instrument Exploration: Gamelan Ensemble

9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Try your hand at playing gamelan instruments! Explore the unique sounds of gongs and metallophones, instruments with rows of tuned metal bars that are struck with mallets. 

 

Photo Booth

9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Have your picture taken in our hands-free photo booth! Digitally share your pictures and tag us with #MIMphx for a chance to be featured on our social media. 

 

Guest Talk: Vietnamese Musical Instruments: Diversity and Distinctiveness

10:30–11 a.m.

Explore the richness and specialization of Vietnamese traditional instruments and learn how they have endured in modern life with Dr. Phan Thuận Thảo, deputy director of the Institute for Research and Conservation of Music in Vietnam.

 

Gallery Tour: Southeast Asia

11:30–11:45 a.m.

Learn about the various Southeast Asian musical instruments in MIM’s collection with our curator for Asia and Oceania, Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu. 

 

Pop-Up Performance: The Sound of Ðàn Tranh

12:15–12:30 p.m.

Enjoy a performance featuring the sounds of the đàn tranh plucked zither, one of the most popular traditional instruments of Vietnam.

 

Film Screening: Bali: Beats of Paradise

12:30–1:30 p.m., Saturday

Watch a documentary celebrating the beauty of Bali and exploring the modern ethnomusicology of Indonesia, featuring Grammy-winning artist Judith Hill and Indonesian composer Nyoman Wenten. 

 

Performance: Lion Dance Opening

1:00–1:15 p.m., Sunday

Experience a cherished traditional dance deeply rooted in South China’s Guangdong province and among Chinese communities in Southeast Asian countries. 

 

Performance: Cultural Fashion Show

1:15–1:45 p.m., Sunday

Enjoy a fashion show hosted by the Arizona Asian American Association, showcasing a variety of traditional garments from various Southeast Asian regions. 

 

Pop-Up Performance: Rojak Jam

1:45–2 p.m.

Experience Rojak Jam’s arrangements of Malaysian traditional folk songs for voice, gamelan, and piano. 

 

Workshop: Thai Flower Dance

2:30–3:00 p.m., Saturday

Take part in this interactive dance workshop from the Academy of Asian Art Foundation Thai flower dancers.

 

Performance: Binasuan Filipino Folk Dance

2:30–2:45 p.m., Sunday

Enjoy a graceful performance of the binasuan Filipino folk dance, which shows off the balancing skills of the dancer.

 

Performance: Salip and Banga Dance

2:45–3:15 p.m., Sunday

Join the Bisaya Dance Group of Arizona for a performance of two Filipino dances originating from Northern Luzon. The salip is a ritual courtship dance, and the banga represents the stamina and strength of Indigenous women.

 

Performance: Thai Flower Dance

3:30–4 p.m., Saturday

Don’t miss your chance to watch an engaging performance from traditional Thai flower dancers as they display the beauty of one of Thailand’s most intricate dance styles. 

 

Performance: Dok Champa Lao Dance

3:15–3:30 p.m., Sunday

Experience the beauty and elegance of this dance celebrating the national flower of Laos, the dok champa (plumeria).

 

Performance: Trống Cơm Dance

3:30–4 p.m., Sunday

Observe the traditional festive trống cơm (“rice drum”) dance, which originated in the north region of Vietnam.