21^st Raleigh International Festival Recap

November 4-5, 2006, Doron Arena, NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh

TACAS in Raleigh International Festival 2006

The annual International Festival (IF) sponsored by the Raleigh City Government almost came to a halt at the beginning of this year, due to financial difficulty. However, in August, with the support from various ethnic groups and the determination of council members, the organizing committee decided to press forward with the festival, held on November 4^th and 5^th (Saturday and Sunday) and themed "Global Play". 

Due to financial circumstances, IF 2006 was held in only one building, the oval-shaped Dorton Arena, to showcase spectacles of various ethnic groups. Despite the limited number of participating organizations, 25 cultural groups and 16 ethnic food booths, the center stage still maintained it's grandiose and featured two whole days of consecutive performances. Upon witnessing the large crowds of festival attendees enjoying the performances, participating in ethnic activities, experiencing cultural exhibitions, tasting various ethnic cuisine, and experimenting with all sorts of souvenirs, the organization committee, International Focus as well as representatives from all the cultural groups who meticulously planned the event were able to finally take a sigh of relief.  

The organizing committee was able to demonstrate its ability to handle emergency situations due to a small incident that conveniently served as an interlude during the festival. On Saturday afternoon, the first day of the festival, a chef from a certain country was so excited in displaying his skills that the smoke from his cooking wares triggered the fire alarm. Consequently, the entire arena was evacuated for approximately 15 minutes, and the festival was allowed to continue afterwards once the safety of the facility was verified and confirmed. 

TACAS has always taken pride in representing the Chinese culture in, and puts in great efforts for, the International Festival; this year, TACAS was represented by 200 volunteers and performers. On-stage, both the Lion Dance Troupe and the RCLS Dance III, taught by Bao-chu Chang, have always been a crowd-pleaser. At the exhibition booth, under the leadership of TACAS Art Center Director Theresa Boudreaux, demonstrations of calligraphy, painting, origami, knotting, Mahjong, and Go all attracted long lines. In the cafe, Mr. Yih-Shin Tan and Mr. Naipo Lee led the TACAS Youth Group to a very successful booth; especially notable in the cafe was the "Dragon Whisker Candy" provided and made on-site by Mr. Wok, which proved to be a major jaw-dropper. The Bazaar booth, featuring clothing, gift, and souvenir items from Lan抯 Gift Shop, was also wildly popular, receiving constant streams of attendees both days of the Festival. 

With the support of the various cultural organizations, Raleigh International Festival has endured and overcome the toughest financial difficulty since inception. TACAS, a long-time member and participant of IF, has annually supported the Festival both financially and in man-power in hopes that the mainstream society may have a better appreciation of Chinese culture and further elevate the status and recognition of Chinese-Americans. To be able to accomplish such a goal would be most rewarding for our efforts. 

華協(TACAS)參與洛麗國際節 

洛麗市政府每年主辦的國際節，年初曾因經費不足幾乎要喊停。最後在市政府的堅持及多個文化團體的支持下，終於在8月底決定咬緊牙根，以全球同樂(Global Play)為主題，繼續在11/4及11/5(星期六及星期日)兩天舉行。

 為了節省經費，今年的國際節場地只使用了Dorton Arena，希望在這個不大的橢圓形室內運動場裏呈現國際節的特色。雖然參加的文化團體只有25個，美食攤位只有16個，但是舞台表演可沒縮水，依然是足足兩天不停的節目。事前由主辦的International Focus及各個團體的代表們非常仔細的溝通和策劃，在看到Dorton Arena裡人山人海，每個人笑咪咪的觀賞節目，玩各國不同的遊戲，體會各國的文化特色，享受各國美食和把玩各種記念品後，大家才鬆了一口氣。

期間雖然發生了一件小插曲，倒也成了今年的故事。烹飪展示是在一個小房間裡，星期六下午也不知是那一國的烹飪大師煮得太興奮了，冒出的煙竟然使得Dorton Arena的警鈴大叫。結果，所有的人都被請到戶外"休息"了約15分鐘，等到確定安全無誤後才又回去繼續進行活動。這個小插曲也展現出主辦單位的應變能力，整個國際節完全不受影響。

華協對於能代表中華文化參加國際節一向是兢兢業業，卯足全力。今年華協共有200人/次參加。舞台上的舞獅和張寶珠老師所指導的洛麗中文學校 (RCLS) 女子傳統舞蹈一向都是很受歡迎的節目。由華協藝文中心賈小婷女士策劃文化展覽裡的書法，國畫，摺紙，中國結甚至麻將，圍棋指導等等也都大排長龍。而華協青少年團 (Youth Group) 在李乃波及譚逸心先生的帶領之下，撐起中華美食攤位。Mr. Wok 的龍鬚糖讓眾人大開眼界。中華紀念品攤位更是佈置得美侖美奐。Lan's Gift Shop所提供各式各樣的禮品和中國服等等使得中華攤位整整兩天訪客川流不息。

洛麗國際節在多個文化團體的支持下，在今年走過了最艱難的財務拮据。不論任何情況，華協每年都投入經費及數百人參與這個盛會，只希望能讓美國主流社會多多了解中華文化藝術之美，更希望能提升華人的地位和關注。那麼，一切的努力都是值得的。