24 January 2012, 7-9 PM at LACE
Nobuko Miyamoto brings alive the dynamic moment when “A Grain of Sand” created a heartbeat for the Asian American Movement, sharing rhythms with Latinos, Blacks and Native Americans. Together with guest musicians and activists of yesterday and today, she weaves a poetic elixir that tells the story.
In partnership with the Japanese American National Museum.
Photo credit: Daren Mooko.
Nobuko Miyamoto, Artistic Director of Great Leap, was a dancer on Broadway and in films such as Flower Drum Song and Westside Story, but she found her own voice in the 70’s as an activist in the Asian American movement. With Chris Iijima and Charlie Chin she created milestone album “A Grain of Sand,” now part of Smithsonian Collection. Their music galvanized young Asians and built bridges with Black, Latino and Native Americans. In 1978, she founded Great Leap to create theater works about the Asian American experience. After the ’92 LA Uprising Great Leap works bridged diverse communities, and after 9/11, deepened interfaith understanding. Today Nobuko is creating a series of environmental music videos. B.Y.O. CHOPSTIX and MOTTAINAI can be seen on YouTube.