FIRST CLASS: KAREN TRADITIONAL BAMBOO

Karen traditional bamboo dance is performed at the Karen New Year and other special occasions. There are two types of Karen bamboo dance, the first one is group holding bamboo sticks low to the ground and cross over each other in a checkered pattern, while the rest of the dancers step in between the spaces made by the crossed bamboo sticks. The second one is a half of the group standing and holding bamboo, dancers dance quick steps among the striking bamboos. One wrong move and your foot will be hit by the bamboo poles. It is very important for the dancers paying attention to their feet between the bamboo. This particular bamboo dance is very popular in Thailand and Burma (Myanmar).

DANCE INSTRUCTOR: Hsa Win

I was born in Thailand refugee camp (Mae La Camp). I came to America in 2011 with my mother and sister. I was brought to America by my family for numerous reasons: primarily to find a better life, a meaningful career, and a place that values and rewards hard work. Coming to America without any knowledge of culture or language was also very challenging. Although I knew almost nothing about America when I arrived, I began waking up each and every day with new goals and dreams. Throughout my career in high school, I’ve been involved into several different activities such as Student Council, Student Ambassador, National Honor Society, STEM Club, and other leadership activities that have been offered at my school. I’m very grateful for all the experiences from these activities, especially working as a volunteer in my community and other communities. I enjoy and feel called to help people learn about community services available to them. I am the first person in my family to graduate from high school. I’m also the first person in my family to attend college. I attend the University of Akron and I have chosen to major in Biology because I am very interested in studying health and medicine. I truly believe I can become a doctor or physician’s assistant, which is my dream. When I successfully become a doctor, I want to go back to my refugee camp to help out those people who need access to medical service.

I’m a dance instructor and also Akron Karen Culture Dance Team organizer. I’ve been teaching many teenagers Karen traditional dance for three years. When they first came to the dance practice, they have no dancing experience at all. My job as a dance instructor is to teach and keep my traditional dance alive. No matters where you from, I believe that dancing is the only way that can bring different community together as one.