"Lengger: A Dance Workshop" with Rianto, November 12 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh will host Rianto and "Lengger: A Dance Workshop" on November 12.

This dance workshop will be led by Rianto.

Rianto is an Indonesian-born, Japan-based dancer, choreographer, and actor, trained in classical Javanese dance from a young age. He specializes in cross-gender traditional dance form of Lengger Banyumas. Rianto was born in 1981 in Banyumas, Indonesia. Rianto learned to dance the culturally significant lengger dance at the High School for the Arts (SMKI) in Banyumas, Indonesia. He later studied choreography at the college-level Institute of the Arts (ISI) in Surakarta, central Java. Since 2003, Rianto has been based in Tokyo, where he founded the Dewandaru Dance Company, a classical Javanese dance company. Rianto has performed with many international companies and choreographers, including the Akram Khan Company and Choy Ka Fai's SoftMachine.Rianto is a master of Lengger Lanang, a dance that expresses gender, body, and construction through a man performing as a woman. Rianto has worked to preserve the dance by establishing Rumah Lengger, a center in Banyumas that trains young dancers in the style; and collaborating with the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) to document the dance using motion capture technology.

The workshop runs from 11:00 am to 12:15 in room 132, Music Building (map).

SCREENSHOT: Asia 2024 Film Festival schedule announced.

The SCREENSHOT: ASIA 2024 Film Festival schedule was announced this afternoon, with films out of Japan, China, Indonesia, and Taiwan helping to comprise the lineup. Selections include:

• A Great Absence (大いなる不在』予告編), Japan - September 29 at Frick Fine Arts (Pitt campus)
• Black Dog (狗阵), China - September 28 at Harris Theater
• Salli (莎莉), Taiwan - September 25 in Lawrence Hall (Pitt campus)
• Sweet Dreams, Indonesia - September 27 at Harris Theater

Tickets and showtime info is now available online. SCREENSHOT: ASIA, which puts on the annual festival along with other Asian programming,

is a joint project from the Film and Media Studies Program and the Asian Studies Center that brings together students, faculty, and community members to create a shared awareness of Asian and Asian American experiences through contemporary film and media. Using film, video, and other on-screen arts, the series provides a forum to learn about Asian art, whether it is a classic work of cinema, a film by an emerging director, or a documentary addressing contemporary social concerns. The programming allows us to reflect on the importance of visual arts, current arts technology, and the place of cultural experiences in a global educational experience.

Itamae Thai & Sushi Bar now open in Mt. Lebanon.

Itamae Thai & Sushi Bar has recently opened in Mt. Lebanon, holding its Grand Opening on July 5. Mt. Lebanon Magazine profiled the restaurant on May 10 when it was still in the works:

Hungry for sushi? A new restaurant called Itamae is coming soon to 193 Castle Shannon Boulevard, replacing Yum Yum Asian Cuisine, which closed in February.

Itamae is Japanese for chef, or someone who works behind a cutting board. The new concept will be Thai and sushi. The decor will be Asian/Japanese.

Indonesian-born Vick Oktavian and his wife, Katie Kaewwangworn, are self-proclaimed foodies with years of culinary experience. “We love checking out different restaurants and trying different cuisine. We are firm believers that in order to make good food, we must train our taste buds by eating good food,” said Oktavian.

It is located at 193 Castle Shannon Blvd. (map).

Gamelan Music and Dance of Indonesia: A Tribute Concert for Undang Sumarna, April 13 at University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh Department of Music will present the University of Pittsburgh Gamelan Ensemble and Gamelan Music and Dance of Indonesia: A Tribute Concert for Undang Sumarna on April 13.

The University Gamelan Ensemble plays the gamelan music of the Sundanese people. Pitt's gamelan group includes students as well as community members. Participants in the gamelan program are encouraged to use Sundanese processes of learning as much as possible; oral transmission of musical parts is preferred over written notation and working together as an ensemble is more important than developing individual talent.

The event starts at 8:00 pm in the Bellefield Auditorium at 315 S. Bellefield Ave. (map) and tickets are available online.

Gamelan Music and Dance of Indonesia: A Tribute Concert for Undang Sumarna, April 13 at University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh Department of Music will present the University of Pittsburgh Gamelan Ensemble and Gamelan Music and Dance of Indonesia: A Tribute Concert for Undang Sumarna on April 13.

The University Gamelan Ensemble plays the gamelan music of the Sundanese people. Pitt's gamelan group includes students as well as community members. Participants in the gamelan program are encouraged to use Sundanese processes of learning as much as possible; oral transmission of musical parts is preferred over written notation and working together as an ensemble is more important than developing individual talent.

The event starts at 8:00 pm in the Bellefield Auditorium at 315 S. Bellefield Ave. (map) and tickets are available online.

2023 SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival, with selections from China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, around Pittsburgh October 4 - 8.

The 2023 SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival will run from October 4 through 8 at several theaters in Pittsburgh and will include movies from China, Japan, Korean, and Taiwan in its lineup. 

• Coo Coo 043 ( 一家子兒咕咕叫 / Taiwan) - October 8, 3:30 pm, Frick Fine Arts Building
• Hail to Hell (지옥만세 / Korea) - October 6, 6:00 pm, Harris Theater
• In My Mother's Skin (Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan) - October 5, 8:00 pm, Harris Theater
• Plan 75 (Japan) - October 7, 5:30 pm, Harris Theater (includes Director Q&A)
• Return to Dust (隐入尘烟 / China) - TBD
• Tiger Stripes (Malaysia) - October 8, 7:00 pm, Alumni Hall Room 323 (includes Director Q&A)

The movies will play at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District and in spots around the University of Pittsburgh campus. 

Indonesian rock band Voice of Baceprot in Pittsburgh, August 11.

The Indonesian rock band Voice of Baceprot will play a show in Pittsburgh on August 11. Their official site introduces them thus:

Young, Indonesian, hijab-wearing, female metal trio Voice Of Baceprot (VOB) have been covering the members’ favourite metal songs since they learned to play their instruments. Their prowess at playing these covers got them attention from fans and media worldwide and enabled them to develop to the point where they could, as a band, create original songs.

Consisting of Marsya (vocals and guitar), Widi (bass), and Sitti (drums), the trio first met when they were still junior high school students in their hometown of Singajaya, a small village two hours’ drive away from the city of Garut, West Java. The word “baceprot” from their band name comes from the Sundanese language meaning “noisy”. It was chosen to represent the type of music that they play.

Since their formation, VOB have become a point of discussion for a host of renowned global media, including The New York Times, NPR, BBC, DW and The Guardian, featuring them in the pages of their online publication. VOB were recently named by heavy metal and rock magazine Metal Hammer as “the Metal Band the World Needs Right Now”.

They'll play at the Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh, located at 230 W. Station Square Drive (map) in Station Square. The show starts at 7:00 pm, and guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Indonesian rock band Voice of Baceprot in Pittsburgh, August 11.

The Indonesian rock band Voice of Baceprot will play a show in Pittsburgh on August 11. Their official site introduces them thus:

Young, Indonesian, hijab-wearing, female metal trio Voice Of Baceprot (VOB) have been covering the members’ favourite metal songs since they learned to play their instruments. Their prowess at playing these covers got them attention from fans and media worldwide and enabled them to develop to the point where they could, as a band, create original songs.

Consisting of Marsya (vocals and guitar), Widi (bass), and Sitti (drums), the trio first met when they were still junior high school students in their hometown of Singajaya, a small village two hours’ drive away from the city of Garut, West Java. The word “baceprot” from their band name comes from the Sundanese language meaning “noisy”. It was chosen to represent the type of music that they play.

Since their formation, VOB have become a point of discussion for a host of renowned global media, including The New York Times, NPR, BBC, DW and The Guardian, featuring them in the pages of their online publication. VOB were recently named by heavy metal and rock magazine Metal Hammer as “the Metal Band the World Needs Right Now”.

They'll play at the Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh, located at 230 W. Station Square Drive (map) in Station Square. The show starts at 7:00 pm, and guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

University Gamelan: Gamelan Sunda—The Sound of Celebration, April 1 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Music will present "University Gamelan: Gamelan Sunda—The Sound of Celebration" on April 1.

The University Gamelan Ensemble, directed by Andrew Weintraub and Jay Arms, plays the gamelan music of the Sundanese people, an ethnic group that inhabits roughly the western third of the island of Java. Gamelan refers to a set of predominantly percussion instruments including tuned gongs, metal-keyed instruments, and drums (as well as bowed lute and voice).

Featuring guest artists Endang Rukandi and Henry Spiller.

FREE and open to the general public

Livestream available on the Music at Pitt YouTube channel

The event will be held from 8:00 pm in the Bellefield Hall Auditorium in Oakland (map).

University Gamelan Ensemble performance, November 15 at Pitt.

The Department of Music will present a University Gamelan Ensemble performance on November 15. A description of the ensemble, from the department:

The University Gamelan was founded in fall 1997 and is directed by Andrew Weintraub. The instructor for the course is currently Jay Arms. The University Gamelan Ensemble (Mus 0690) plays the gamelan music of the Sundanese people, an ethnic group that inhabits roughly the western third of the island of Java. Gamelan refers to a set of predominantly percussion instruments including tuned gongs, metal-keyed instruments, and drums (as well as bowed lute and voice). Gamelan music is played as accompaniment to dance, drama, puppet theater, and martial arts, as well as for concerts of listening music. Gamelan is performed in conjunction with special occasions and to mark important life-cycle events.

The event starts at 8:00 pm in Bellefield Hall (map) and is free and open to the public, though registration is required. It will also be streamed online on the department's Youtube channel.

Sagisaka Duo, Cornelius Boots, The Jakarta Method at Vestige Concept Gallery in Lawrenceville, November 5; traditional Japanese music, "bass shakuhachi," and Indonesian rock.

Sagisaka Duo, Cornelius Boots, and The Jakarta Method will perform at the Vestige Concept Gallery in Lawrenceville tonight, November 5.

Join us on Saturday, Nov. 5th at 7:30 PM for an evening of music by Sagisaka Duo (traditional Japanese music), Cornelius Boots (bass shakuhachi, original compositions) and Risky Sasono’s “The Jakarta Method!” We’re asking for $15 suggested donation at the door to be split amongst the performers.

The event starts at 7:30 pm. The Vestige Concept Gallery is located at 5417 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

"From Indonesia to Pittsburgh: New Music for the University Gamelan," April 8 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Music will present "From Indonesia to Pittsburgh: New Music for the University Gamelan" on April 8.

Sundanese composer, performer, and educator Ismet Ruchimat joins the University of Pittsburgh Gamelan for an evening of contemporary music and dance from Indonesia. Join us for a program featuring traditional music and world premieres of new compositions by Ruchimat with dance choreographed and performed by guest artist Maya Caturistayu.

The event starts at 8:00 pm at Bellefield Hall and will also be streamed on the department's Youtube page. The concert is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Those who are not Pitt faculty, staff, or students will receive guest access to the building if they register in advance.

"From Indonesia to Pittsburgh: New Music for the University Gamelan," April 8 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Music will present "From Indonesia to Pittsburgh: New Music for the University Gamelan" on April 8.

Sundanese composer, performer, and educator Ismet Ruchimat joins the University of Pittsburgh Gamelan for an evening of contemporary music and dance from Indonesia. Join us for a program featuring traditional music and world premieres of new compositions by Ruchimat with dance choreographed and performed by guest artist Maya Caturistayu.

The event starts at 8:00 pm at Bellefield Hall and will also be streamed on the department's Youtube page. The concert is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Those who are not Pitt faculty, staff, or students will receive guest access to the building if they register in advance.

Short films from Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Asian America part of Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival, November 18 - 21.

Though the Three Rivers Film Festival will feature no full-length Asian films this year, its companion festival, the Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival running from November 18 through 21, will feature shorts from Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Asian America.

The program of films includes "Americanized," "Raspberry," and "Windup" from the USA; "Annah la Javanaise" from Indonesia; "Colorful" and "Georgia" from Korea; and "Dinner" from Vietnam. The short films are grouped into various blocks and play at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty (map) and, in some cases, virtually. Tickets are available online.
Still from "Windup."

Still from "Colorful."

Short films from Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Asian America part of Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival, November 18 - 21.

Though the Three Rivers Film Festival will feature no full-length Asian films this year, its companion festival, the Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival running from November 18 through 21, will feature shorts from Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Asian America.

The program of films includes "Americanized," "Raspberry," and "Windup" from the USA; "Annah la Javanaise" from Indonesia; "Colorful" and "Georgia" from Korea; and "Dinner" from Vietnam. The short films are grouped into various blocks and play at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty (map) and, in some cases, virtually. Tickets are available online.
Still from "Windup."

Applications for Pitt's Asian Studies Center Language Partner program being accepted.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center is now accepting applicatiosn for its latest Language Partner program.

Oakland's Spice Island Tea House to reopen for pick-up, from May 8.

After temporarily closing on March 21, Oakland's Spice Island Tea House will reopen for pick-up orders on May 8.

After a month’s hiatus we are offering take-outs again except this time it’s online only! It’ll be a limited hours and menu items so if you don’t see your favorite dish, worry not! We will be adding items as we get back into the groove in this crazy new world. Check out what we have on the website.

Orders can be placed online via their website.
Spice Island Tea House is located at 253 Atwood St. in Oakland (map).

Keeping track of restaurants staying open for take-out and delivery options.

I recently started a thread on Facebook to help track the Asian restaurants that will be staying open for take-out and delivery service amid the shutdown.




Consider checking the comments to see which Asian restaurants will stay open in a limited capacity over the next few weeks.

Pitt sends message to its student community about racism and xenophobia against Asian students.

Kenyon Bonner, the Vice Provost and Dean of Students at the University of Pittsburgh, sent an announcement to the Pitt student population yesterday about the coronavirus's potential impact on health and well-being. The message also included a message about curbing racism and xenophobia that has been directed against Asian-American and international students at Pitt:

In addition to our physical wellness, it is important that during this time we remain committed to our communal well-being. Pitt aims to be an inclusive community in which everyone feels like they belong and are valued. Disappointedly, some members of our community have used the coronavirus as a vehicle to spew hateful rhetoric targeted at some of our international, Asian American students, and people who are perceived to have been in contact with COVID-19. This type of treatment is wrong, insensitive, harmful, and contrary to the University’s values. Although this outbreak started in China, having Chinese ancestry – or any other ancestry – does not place a person at higher risk for this illness.

As you discuss the coronavirus, please keep a few considerations in mind:

• Memes and jokes often stem from offensive stereotypes
• Jokes about Asian connections to the coronavirus normalize racist and discriminatory behavior
• Fact-check information before sharing on social media. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) are credible resources
• Empathize with those who have contracted COVID-19 or whose friends or family may be at risk, rather than blaming them
• Read the WHO A Guide to Preventing and Addressing Social Stigma

Together, we can make our campus feel inclusive for everyone by treating each other with dignity and respect and sharing accurate information with our fellow community members.

One day left for fundraising for new Screenshot: Asia film festival and media series at University of Pittsburgh from September 2020.

A festival organizer writes with an update on fundraising for the new Asian film festival and media series hosted by the University of Pittsburgh from September 2020:

I wanted to update you on the progress we are making on bringing a new and improved Asian Film Festival to Pittsburgh.

I'm not sure how much you have heard about this, but Pitt will now host the festival each September (now called Screenshot: Asia), which means that the event will have much more student and faculty participation in addition to strong support from the Pittsburgh community. Screenshot Asia will be the umbrella organization for our own Japan Documentary Film Award, and they will support year-round Asian film programming (including showing silent samurai films with live musical performances like the benshi I brought last year).
We have been raising money for the Film Festival in order to prove to Pitt that we have broad community interest. Would you consider making a donation to support us?

A few reasons to support us:

• Pitt has the strongest film studies program in the city (actually a strong nation-wide reputation), and we are well positioned to make this an amazing event for the university, for Asian communities living in Pittsburgh, and for anyone who loves Asian cinema.
• Contributions start at five dollars. Any level of support would be appreciated!
• One of our students is featured in our promotional film (but you'll have to watch the video to find out who!)

We have just one more day until the campaign ends. We are making excellent progress at nearly 80% of our goal. Please take a look and consider supporting us. Many thanks!

You can click here to go directly to the EngagePitt campaign (or copy and paste the address here: https://engage.pitt.edu/project/16914).

Fundraising closes at 11:59 pm on December 3.

Screenshot: Asia was announced in September 2019. It will fill---aiming to fill to excess---a void left after Silk Screen closed in 2018 due to persistent sexual harassment by its CEO, and after Pittsburgh Filmmakers shuttered its theaters and programming in November.