For 12 years, the Fiesta Asia Street Fair on Pennsylvania Avenue has been a showcase for Asian culture in the District. Fiesta Asia was conceived in 2006 by Wuiping Yap, founder of the Asia Heritage Foundation, “to celebrate and promote Asian culture through arts, traditions, education, cuisine and way of life.” This year’s fair, on Saturday, July 21, was set to feature continuous live performances, a wide assortment of Pan-Asian cuisine, a multicultural marketplace and interactive activities for people of all ages.
Traditionally scheduled for May to coincide with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the 2018 event had been postponed once due to inclement weather, so the decision was made to carry on despite more calls for rain. Those who ventured out were treated to lively performances from local groups performing dances from China, India, Thailand, Tahiti, Mongolia, Nepal, Persia and the Philippines.
View Jeff Malet’s photos from Fiesta Asia by clicking on the photo icons below.
The Nritya Mandap Dance Group performs Nepalese classical and folk dance at the Fiesta Asia Street Fair. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Asala performs a Persian dance (photo by Jeff Malet)
Asala performs a Persian dance (photo by Jeff Malet)
Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe: Passion of Tibet (Dancer: Ziyuan Wang) (photo by Jeff Malet)
ZiYuan Wang of the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe (photo by Jeff Malet)
Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe: Leisure Outing (umbrella dance, Dancers: Cynthia Chen, Evelyn Chen, Katie Feldman, Natalie Seara, Stella Chiou) Photo by Jeff Malet.
Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe: Little Chinese Dolls (Dancers: Agnes Gjeluci, Anna Woo, Emily Gyongyos, Esther Gyongyos, Isabelle Lin, Natalie Lewandowski, Sophie Lin, Veronica Lewandowski) (photo by Jeff Malet)
Laura Mazujian of the Ancient Rhythms Dance Company (photo by Jeff Malet)
The Mongolian Dance Ensemble (photo by Jeff Malet)
The Mongolian Dance Ensemble (photo by Jeff Malet)
The Mongolian Dance Ensemble (photo by Jeff Malet)
The Mongolian Dance Ensemble (photo by Jeff Malet)
The Nritya Mandap Dance Group performs Nepalese classical and folk dance (photo by Jeff Malet)
Karen David of Tepua Hio Hio Polynesian Entertainment (photo by Jeff Malet)
Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe (Isabelle Lin on left, Sophie Lin on right) (photo by Jeff Malet)
The Migrant Heritage Commission Filipino-American Heritage Dance Ensemble. Tinikling is a traditional Philippine folk dance. (photo by Jeff Malet)
The Migrant Heritage Commission Filipino-American Heritage Dance Ensemble (photo by Jeff Malet)
Thai Youth Group (photo by Jeff Malet)
The Mongolian Dance Ensemble (photo by Jeff Malet)
The Mongolian Dance Ensemble (photo by Jeff Malet)
The Mongolian Dance Ensemble (photo by Jeff Malet)