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WHAT: Queens Rising is kicking off its month-long celebration of the borough’s rich arts and cultural offerings with a special night of curated performances at the Queens Night Market!
WHEN: Saturday, June 4, 2022 5pm - midnight
WHERE: Queens Night Market
Flushing Meadows Corona Park, behind New York Hall of Science
Queens, New York
WHO:
DJ Rekha
DJ Rekha is a producer, curator, activist and educator. They have been credited with pioneering Bhangra music in North America via Basement Bhangra, one of NYC’s longest-running club nights (1997-2017). They have performed at SummerStage 4 times in over 25 years. Rekha was the sound designer for the TONY award-winning Broadway Show, "Bridge and Tunnel", and was an associate producer for the NPR Radio Documentary, "A Feet in Two Worlds." They have curated events for Celebrate Brooklyn, Central Park SummerStage, have performed at the Obama White House, and internationally.
FANIKE! African Dance Troupe
FANIKE! African Dance Troupe is an African dance company based in Springfield Gardens that embraces and respects the dance, rhythm, historic and growing culture tied to African movement. Our mission is to perpetuate the survival of African and African Diaspora culture and arts through dance and percussion presentation. We encourage the exchange of passion, wisdom and knowledge of African arts within our communities, especially between the elders and their juniors. FANIKE! artists have come together to provide cultural presentations in the Greater Jamaica, and Southeast Queens community for 14 years.
Fogo Azul
Fogo Azul NYC is an all-women, trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line. It is an age and ethnically diverse community that spans the drummer spectrum from novice to professional. Based in Astoria, Fogo Azul (Blue Fire) was born at the intersection of founder Stacy Kovacs’ passion for Samba Reggae, her deep respect for its cultural roots as a music of protest and resistance, her belief and activism in support of gender equality, and her sense of civic duty in the current environment to publicly awaken and inspire people to resist oppression and exercise their power to uplift society —loudly.
Gamelan Yowana Sari
Gamelan Yowana Sari has been a performing Balinese Art Ensemble since 2011. The group is currently in residence at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. The ensemble has performed on major festivals in the US, including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention 2017 in Indiana, the River-to-River Festival, Make Music NY Festival, Midori and Friends and have a long-lasting relationship with the Queens County CASA (Cultural After School Adventures) program. The group works with public school students on team-building activities through gamelan-based percussion music.
La Flor De Lis
La Flor De Lis was formed in Jackson Heights in 2018. Their music is a tribute to Latin culture and its great variety of musical expressions. Their repertoire is based on cumbias, valses, boleros, and son. This trio will make you dance!
Na Pua Mai Ka Lani Nuioka
Based in Forest Hills, Na Pua Mai Ka Lani Nuioka brings traditional and modern hula to NYC under the lineage of Kumu Kale Pawai. We strive to perpetuate the teachings of hula, the culture of Hawaii, and the spirit of aloha, all in the heart of Queens.
…and more!
WHY: “The Queens Night Market is the perfect place to launch Queens Rising,” said Julia del Palacio, Ph.D., Director of Strategic Partnerships and Development at Queens College’s Kupferberg Center for the Arts, and member of the Queens Rising Planning Committee. “It fulfills a major goal of Queens Rising, which is to engage and cultivate the broader public and welcome them to our cultural centers and programs. The Queens Night Market draws thousands of people from all over Queens and the metro area, and we hope by showing them with a wonderful roster of Queens talent tonight, we can pique their interest in our borough’s other phenomenal cultural venues, events, and artists.”
John Wang, founder of Queens Night Market said, “The vast majority of our pledge to charity from earlier this year is going to support Queens Rising and the amazing work they’re doing. They’re promoting Queens as a borough, as a global tourist attraction, and as a major center for arts and culture. We’re honored and privileged to be hosting the launch of Queens Rising, and really looking forward to a month of celebrating this remarkable borough with so many cultural partners.”
TICKETS: Free! No RSVP required.
ABOUT QUEENS RISING: Queens Rising is a multi-disciplinary arts celebration created to highlight the borough’s culture and creative diversity. Scheduled throughout June of 2022, Queens Rising will partner with the many arts organizations, multi-purpose venues and galleries in Queens to present dozens of performances, exhibitions and cultural events that showcase the borough's artistic and cultural communities.
ABOUT QUEENS NIGHT MARKET: The Queens Night Market is a large, family-friendly open-air night market in Queens, featuring up to 100 independent vendors selling merchandise, art, and food and featuring small-scale cultural performances, all celebrating the rich cultural diversity and heritage of NYC and Queens. Since it debuted in 2015, the event has attracted nearly two million visitors, represented over 90 countries through its vendors and their food, featured over 400 free cultural performances, and helped launch over 300 brand new businesses in NYC.
Queens Rising’s lead sponsor is Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Forest Hills. Major support is provided by the Queens Economic Development Corporation, Resorts World Gives, and the Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Queens Borough President’s Office and individuals in the Queens Rising Planning Committee and Working Groups. Media sponsorship provided by PIX 11 and Queens Post.
Queens Rising on the web: QueensRising.nyc | #QueensRisingNYC
For more information on Queens Rising, please contact Nora Lyons (nlyons@shorefire.com) or Rebecca Shapiro (rshapiro@shorefire.com)
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