Thursday, June 05, 2014

Cleveland African-American Heritage Umoja Parade

The Cleveland African-American Heritage Umoja Parade took place on May 31, 2014. 

Umoja is the Swahili word for Unity.
 The parade went down Superior to East Ninth and then down the hill to the Festival in Voinovich Park. 

The parade included Tuskegee Airmen, Buffalo Soldiers and more.



Parade highlight video and pictures

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

CAMEO 44th Anniversary

Cleveland American Middle East Organization (CAMEO) is a Bi-partisan Political Action Organization that was established in 1970. It is designed to articulate the political interest of more than 100,000 Northeastern Ohio residents of Middle Eastern heritage, Arab Americans. The 44th anniversary of the group was celebrated at a dinner event at St. Elias Cultural Center in May.

Photos and videos of the event 


Fun duet of Indian Kathak and Tap Dance

Antara Datta performed an Indian Kathak dance at the Traveling the Silk Road exhibition grand opening at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

She was then joined in a second dance by tap dancer Tim J Hickey and they performed an entertaining duet.

Photos and video of the dance duet


Indian Kathak Dance at Traveling the Silk Road exhibition opening

Antara Datta performed an Indian Kathak dance at the Traveling the Silk Road exhibition grand opening at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Kathak is one of the eight leading forms of Indian classical dance and its named is derived from the word 'storytelling'.

See more from Antara Datta and the Kathak dance



Chinese Dance at Traveling the Silk Road exhibition opening

Yin Tang performed in a classic Tang Dynasty costume with a fusion of movements through various Chinese dynastic perfoming arts. How she avoided getting tangled in the flowing costume we will never know. She performed at the Traveling the Silk Road exhibition grand opening at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.


Photos and videos of Yin Tang


Dragon Dance at Traveling the Silk Road exhibition opening

The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) Dragon Dance Club is sponsored by the Confucius Institute at Cleveland State University and partners with T'Shaka Brown KungFu School, Yin Tang Dance and Asian Town Center.

The 12 person dance troupe performed at the Traveling the Silk Road exhibition grand opening at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

The Dragon Dance was intended to bring good luck and prosperity (and fun!) to the Museum and attendees.

Photos and videos of the Dragon Dance


Highlights of the Traveling the Silk Road exhibit

Named for the fabric that enticed traders from all over the world, the Silk Road spanned the far reaches of China to the center of the Islamic world from A.D. 600 to 1200.

Take a journey across Asia and discover the spectacular sights, sounds and stories of the greatest trade route of ancient times. Emboss a passport with iconic symbols as you travel through four representative cities. Experience a full-scale re-creation of a night market, complete with spices, luxury goods and precious raw materials.

Walk through a 41-foot-long replica of the prow of an Arabian sailing ship, with a cutaway view of its cargo below deck. Along the journey, discover ancient technologies, learn how silk was made and uncover amazing stories.

Traveling the Silk Road features immersive re-creations of ancient settings, life-size models, engaging videos and hands-on activities. This exhibition is free with Museum admission.

More from the Silk Road exhibit


Traveling the Silk Road exhibition at Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Imagine a world in which the latest ideas traveled not by wireless networks but by camel.



Centuries ago, merchants, missionaries and other travelers made their way across Asia, along the enormous trade network known as the Silk Road. Over rugged mountains and forbidding deserts, camel caravans loaded with precious cargo made possible the exchange of valuable goods, ideas and innovations. Named for the fabric that enticed traders from all over the world, the Silk Road spanned the far reaches of China to the center of the Islamic world from A.D. 600 to 1200.


The exhibition, free with Cleveland Museum of Natural History admission, opened in New York and then went to Asia, Rome, Los Angeles and now Cleveland. Cleveland is the first city in the area to host this fascinating exhibit.

See more from the Opening Celebration of the exhibit