ETH-NOH-TEC
Weavers of Myth, Music and Movement
The weaving (tec) of cultures (eth) East and West to create new possibilities (noh).

Contact: Eth-Noh-Tec, 977 South Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94110
ph: 415.282.8705 fax: 415.282.8795
e-mail: ethnohtec@aol.com
http://www.ethnohtec.org

ASIAN TREASURE BAG OF FOLK TALES


Asian Treasure Bag of Folk Tales (30 minute video) $25
Eth-Noh-Tec invites you into the world of ancient Asian folktales and
contemporary Asian-American performance. Unlike any performing duo you
have ever seen, Nancy Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo weave together (Tec)
distinctive cultural elements (Eth) to create new possibilities (Noh).
Storytelling like none other, "Asian Treasure Bag" is magic in the way
only myth can be; heroism and trickery, wisdom and folly. Wong and
Kikuchi-Yngojo are accomplished musicians on a wide variety of
instruments, evocative movement artists, and over-all fascinating
storytellers who leave their audiences with a laugh, a lingering thought
and always a powerful visual image.

"Once upon a time..."
Just the phrase conjures up the magic of storytelling, the wonder of
timeless tales. In Asian Treasure Bag of Folk Tales, Eth-Noh-Tec's Nancy
Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo bring you ancient stories from the many
lands of the East. Whether it's learning about respecting people as in
"The Man Who Planted Onions" from Korea, or about sacrifice as in "The
Long Haired Girl" from China, the stories reflect the values of a
diversity of cultures through triumph and tragedy as well as the
intricacies of life itself. You'll see how "Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess",
helped create dance in Japan, and laugh with the "Seven Silly Fellows"
from the Philippines.

Young, old, and every age in between will enjoy this marvelous collection
of Asian stories, bridging the forms of East and West through movement,
music and the spoken word. Like a good story, this video is ageless-one
you'll find yourselves watching over and over again, seeing and hearing
something different every time!

About ETH-NOH-TEC
Weavers of Myth, Music and Movement
The weaving (tec) of cultures (eth) East and West to create new
possibilities (noh).

Who and What:
Nancy Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, as Eth-Noh-Tec, present a
performance that must be seen to fully appreciate the richness and
their indescribably unique style of storytelling. With warmth, humor
and wisdom, they retell ancient Asian folktales, myths and legends, as
well as contemporary Asian American stories using rhythmic dialogue,
lively facial expressions reminiscent of Asian mask theater,
accompanied by music and tightly synchronized choreographed dance
motifs melded from the performing arts of the East and the West.

Where:
Providing several outstanding programs that appeal to all ages, they
present over 400 storytelling performances, full-length concerts and
workshops to over 250,000 audience members annually throughout the
U.S. in schools, universities, festivals, museums and theaters. Venues
include: President Clinton's Inaugural Celebration, the National
Storytelling Festival, the storytelling festivals of Michigan, Utah,
Massachusettes, New York, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, "All
Things Considered," and numerous other festivals, universities,
museums and theaters locally and across the country. Their videos,
audios and PBS television works have been recipients of several awards
including the Telly Award, California Emmy, National Parenting
Publications Award and Parents' Choice Gold.

And Why:
Founded in 1982, Eth-Noh-Tec's mission is: To build cultural bridges
that celebrate our humanity, embrace our differences, shift
consciousness and create compassionate communities through the
performance of Asian and Asian American stories that touch upon our
universal truths.

As a result, when we work in communities throughout the country, both
urban and rural, our stories impact our audiences far beyond providing
entertainment. For example, in Santa Cruz, Ca., after seeing our show,
a Korean boy who called himself 'Joe' stood up in front of his 300
classmates to tell us his Korean name 'Won Yun' meaning 'King of the
Sky' with pride for the first time in his life. A Chinese folk tale
entitled "Long Haired Girl" about a young girl's courage to tell the truth
against all odds has inspired several girls across the country to report
their own molestation. In Stockton, Ca., a fight between Southeast
Asian and Latino gangs had broken out before the show, and our
presentation of a Hmong story about the devastation of war reminded
the students that each of us is responsible for peace in our
communities. By presenting folktales that represent our cultural
heritage and our own personal stories as Asian Americans, we not only
serve as role models for those who wish to explore their own
background; we break Asian stereotypes, encourage understanding
amongst and between all cultures and celebrate our human triumphs,
so desperately needed today.

Contact: Eth-Noh-Tec, 977 South Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94110
ph: 415.282.8705 fax: 415.282.8795
e-mail: ethnohtec@aol.com
http://www.ethnohtec.org