20th ANNUAL CULTURAL CROSSROADS

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Maria Kesovija
206-443-1410
July 23, 2010

20th ANNUAL CULTURAL CROSSROADS
A Celebration of our Community’s Cultural Riches

The Ethnic Heritage Council and Crossroads Shopping Center will present the Twentieth Annual Cultural Crossroads Festival, November 5-7, at Crossroads Bellevue, located at NE 8th at 156th Ave. NE in Bellevue.  The festival will feature some of the area’s best ethnic entertainment on two stages, an international bazaar, and exhibits.  Admission is free.  Festival hours:  
Friday, November 5:  5pm – 10pm
Saturday, November 6:  10am – 10pm
Sunday, November 7:  11am – 6pm

The multi-cultural celebration will feature a world of entertainment – thirty-five cultural & ethnic music and dance performances.  Performances include:  Bokréta Hungarian Dance Ensemble; Enzian Schuhplattler, Dances of German Bavaria; Los de Rio, Musical Journey through Spain, Mexico & Latin America; Ocheami, Traditional Ghanaian Dance & Music; Juliana & PAVA, Ancient Russian Folk Songs, and a performance of Odissi Classical Dance by Urvasi Dance Company.  Event favorite Rouge & Noir Tango Orchestra will bring out the Tango in everyone along with a tango dance lesson by Patty Leverett and Bonaca will perform traditional music of Croatia and Italy.

The event is FREE and has been the single most popular event in the Crossroads annual calendar of events.  Over twenty booths representing Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and North America, feature imported and hand-crafted gifts from around the world.  Perfect for early Holiday shopping!

The weekend event will feature more exciting activities for children this year, including an international and interactive LEGO® display - a showcase with models representing many cultures and nationalities all made of LEGO®, provided by Dan Parker, LEGO® Certified Professional Artist, and “Folk Art For Kids” a coloring activity for children!

Cultural Crossroads is produced by the Ethnic Heritage Council.  Sponsors include Crossroads Bellevue, The Boeing Company Charitable Trust and City of Bellevue Parks and Community Services Cultural Diversity Program.  The event is supported by 4Culture, Seattle Foundation and KBCS 91.3fm.   Since the EHC’s inception in 1980, the Council has worked to promote inter-ethnic communication and cultural preservation in the Northwest.  EHC continues to produce international festivals, a public July 4th Naturalization Ceremony; publishes a monthly Newsletter and Calendar of Northwest Ethnic and Cultural Events, and provides a referral service to schools, government agencies and private citizens.  Publications and information about the Council will be available throughout the weekend.

Crossroads Bellevue:  15600 NE 8th, Bellevue, WA  98008; www.crossroadsbellevue.com
Visit:  www.ethnicheritagecouncil.org  Schedule to be posted September 2010.
Photos available:  www.pbase.com/jal/culturalcrossroads2009  Photos by Jal Schrof

11th ANNUAL WINTER WORLDFEST

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Maria Kesovija
206-443-1410
July 23, 2010

11th ANNUAL WINTER WORLDFEST

Winter Worldfest, presented by The Ethnic Heritage Council and Seattle Center, is part of Seattle Center Winterfest 2010.  The festival features some of the area’s best ethnic entertainment in music and dance performances all three days and a Holiday World Market.  Admission is free.  Make Winter Worldfest a tradition for your family and friends!

Festival hours:
Friday, November 26, 2010:  1 - 6 pm
Saturday, November 27, 2010:   12noon - 5 pm
Sunday, November 28, 2010:  12noon - 5 pm

Performances include:  One Crazy Raven, a Native American Presentation by storyteller Gene Tagaban; Juliana & PAVA, Ancient Russian Folk Songs; Ocheami, Traditional Ghanaian Dance & Music; La Peña Flamenca, Spanish Flamenco Music & Dance From Southern Spain with a Holiday Theme,Filipiniana Dance Company, Traditional Folk Dance of the Philippines;Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble, Music and Dance of Croatia.

Winter Worldfest is produced by the Ethnic Heritage Council.  Sponsors include, The Boeing Company Charitable Trust.  The event is supported by 4Culture, Seattle Foundation and KBCS 91.3fm.   Since the EHC’s inception in 1980, the Council has worked to promote inter-ethnic communication and cultural preservation in the Northwest.  EHC continues to produce international festivals, a public July 4th Naturalization Ceremony; publishes a monthly Newsletter and Calendar of Northwest Ethnic and Cultural Events, and provides a referral service to schools, government agencies and private citizens.  Publications and information about the Council will be available throughout the weekend.

Visit:  www.ethnicheritagecouncil.org  Schedule to be posted September 2010.
Photos available:  www.pbase.com/jal/worldfest2009  Photos by Jal Schrof