INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS OF AMERICA PRESENTS ENCHANTMENT SHOW
INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS OF AMERICA PRESENTS ENCHANTMENT SHOW
INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS OF AMERICA PRESENTS ENCHANTMENT SHOW
BY Gerrye Wong October 23, 2025
On October 18, the Silicon Valley-based INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS OF AMERICA (IPAA) group presented a wonderful concert titled ENCHANTMENT at the downtown San Jose California Theatre. Before a packed house, the IPAA showcased music and dance from countries all over the world. Being the 8th International Performing Arts Festival, this show was different from past festivals in that it emphasized more clearly the international aspect of presenting artistic groups from different ethnicities than Chinese. Originally part of the work that its founder Ann Woo started decades ago in a San Jose location, the group is now headed by President Andy Jian, Secretary Lucy Lu and Treasurer Christina Cheng. I met with Dennis Nahat, who returns as General Director for the show from his home in Las Vegas where he now serves as Co-Artistic Director and producing Manager of The Donald McKayle Legacy and Executive Artistic Director Yang Yang Lyon during their busy pre-production work days at Chef Chu’s of Los Altos.
As the enthusiastic crowd moved through California Theater’s beautiful lobby, Bay Area News columnist Sal Pizarro and noted Writer/Columnist/Blogger Lina Broydo greeted us saying they had been supporters of Chinese dance productions in the South Bay region through the years. We noted that the audience was predominantly Chinese supporters who probably had also followed this dance company in the past and continued to support its annual production. They agreed with me that we are privileged to be able to witness the talents of so many local citizens who immigrated from China where they studied at such prestigious dance schools as the Beijing Dance Academy and had received many awards during their career years in China.
In years past, the show has been predominantly centered on Chinese historical folk and modern dance works, but this year new performances by different ethnic groups were added to the program. Of the exquisite Chinese dance sequences which opened and closed the show, these were group dance scenes par excellence that mesmerized the audience. Leaders to be credited for the quality and expertise of the dances must go to Executive Artistic Director Yang Yang Lyons, Artistic Director, Choreographer and Principal Dancer Yan Liu, Associate Artistic Director and Soloist Lucy Lu, and Associate Artistic Director and Principal Dancer Jun Yun. Within the program, Whispering Lotus was a Chinese folk dance where dancers symbolized soft winds whisper and lotuses dancing by choreographer Yang Yang Lyon. Another group presentation was titled ROAM, a Mongolian dance choreographed and led by Allie Dong. A description in the program read, “Pastoral songs rise with the wind, gentle yet bold. The spell of the nomad: following water and grass, moving with the seasons telling of a life that is free and full of strength”. A spectacular dance duet followed titled Home is the Warmest Harbor by Xiaoming Wang and Jessica Wu which embodied the interpretation, as written in the program, “Through every storm and weariness, there awaits a light that never fades and an embrace that rekindles the warmth of home.”
By far the group that evoked audience laughter and glee was called The Last Laugh, a hip hop dance where a group of clowns, on their way to town presumably, turn frowns upside down as they gallivant with somersaults and happy dancing covering the stage in colorful outfits. Kudos to choreographers Francis and Erika Tyrell for clever and fun-loving bevy of dancers cavorting during this production. During intermission, President Andy Jian and Mistress of Ceremonies Diana Ding received government commendations from Assessor Fiona Ma, and Saratoga Mayor Yan Zhao.
Among the other international groups performing in the IPAA production was a Latin Samba dance by Vladimir Timofeev, and a Flamenco folk dance Pasajes Flamencos choreographed by Carola Zertuche, and a Peruvian folk dance, Al Ritmo del Cajon with a dozen dancers as led by Lydia Soto. An especially exciting dance of celebration came from the Congo which the program described, “This piece raises the awareness of the atrocities that are still taking place in Congo due to the conflict materials.” I must say that the work of Lighting Director Kenneth Keith made all the difference in the dramatic effects the dancers performed with. Kudos to General Director Dennis Nahat and Kenneth Keith to bring this dance production to a new level of professionalism on stage effects.
The crowning finale of the production was the Chinese dance Across a Thousand Years . A beautiful dramatic piece, the program described the story thus: “ She died and fell into darkness, taught to steal life in order to survive. He was meant to perish by her hand-but love rewrote fate. They were torn apart. He waited a thousand years. And then, in a sea of strangers-there she was. A dream? A ghost? Or love, returning at last.” Choreographed by YangYang Lyon, Xiaoming Wang and Mia Li, this beautiful story told in dance included over 20 dancers on stage.This was such a dramatic well performed piece, it is a shame it cannot be shown many more times. To make inquiries or to support this fine non profit organization, contact 408 605 3217 INFO@INTPERFORMINGARTS.ORG Or CHECK WEBSITE WWW.intperformingarts.org. For donations: info@intperformingarts.org.
