Alma Boliviana (Bolivian Soul) is a cultural organization from Arlington, Virginia, whose mission is to continue Andean Bolivian culture through dance and to preserve indigenous cultural roots in the immigrant Bolivian community. Its members are mostly youth from Bolivian families and other Latino communities who settled in the Washington metropolitan area.

Joining Alma Boliviana is Tradiciones Bolivianas, an adult dance group that performs traditional indigenous dances from Bolivia.

Born and raised in Hawai‘i and transplanted to the Washington area to pursue careers, Isaac, Irvin, and Glen met at Halau O ‘Aulani, a school of Hawaiian culture, where they played music for their children and nieces. The Aloha Boys perform acoustic down-home, backyard-style Hawaiian music, which includes everything from traditional to contemporary songs and styles. The members, who all sing, are Isaac Ho‘opi‘i, guitar; Irvin Queja, acoustic bass, guitar, ukulele, and percussion; and Glen Hirabayashi, rhythm ukulele.

The Arax Armenian Dance Ensemble of Greater Washington is named after the Arax River in Armenia. The group performs unique line and circle dances, graceful women’s improvisations featuring delicate arm and hand movements, and energetic men’s dances to modal music with unusual rhythms.

Arevivia Amos has served as an artist-in-residence to several Smithsonian museums for many years and performs as a guest soloist for organizations and churches coupled with work in opera, oratorio, and sacred music. Marcellus Breach is an accomplished organist, accompanist, music/choral director, professor, and coach with degrees in organ performance and piano from Howard University and Catholic University.

AMAA, a non-profit community organization founded in 2004 in Silver Spring, Maryland, brings together Maa-speakers living in Canada and the United States, creating a strong network that promotes cultural retention and dialogue about issues affecting Maasai communities in Kenya and Tanzania. AMAA has an annual conference each spring that includes cultural performances and a symposium.

Dawn Avery (Mohawk)—cellist and GRAMMY-nominated performer, composer, and teacher—joins with her ensemble Okenti to perform contemporary Native American compositions. Dawn, a composer of both orchestral and chamber styles, is a professor of music at Montgomery College, where she directs the MC World Ensemble and produces the MC World Arts Festival.

Puerto Rican-born Naomi Ayala is an award-winning poet, educator, arts administrator, and community activist. Currently living in Washington, D.C., she has contributed to numerous literary journals and is the author of the poetry books Wild Animals on the Moon (Curbstone Press, 1997) and This Side of Early (Curbstone Press, 2008).

The Black Bear Singers present Northern and Southern Plains-style Round Dance songs. The Round Dance is a social dance that is often performed during the winter months by tribes in the U.S. and Canada. Singers include Jay Hill (Seneca/Ojibwa), Josh Hill (Seneca/Ojibwa/Lakota), Pete Neconie (Pawnee/Kiowa), Sonny Fields (Pawnee), and Clayton Old Elk (Crow).

Storyteller and musician Keith Bear (Mandan/Hidatsa) shares an appreciation of the beauty of Native song and story through a weaving of history and personal reflection that enchants audiences of all ages. He has appeared as a solo flutist and storyteller for national and international venues—such as the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the Kennedy Center, and the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial—and for cultural programs throughout Europe.

The Cambodian Dance School was organized in 1989 under the sponsorship of the Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. of Silver Spring, Maryland, which serves as a place of worship as well as a community center for all Cambodians in the Washington metropolitan area. Robaim Tep Monorom is the most popular dance in the Khmer, or Royal Cambodian, court repertoire and symbolizes the harmonious nature of the Khmer gods and goddesses. The dancers, all women or young girls, perform both male and female roles.

A mezzo-soprano and native of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Anamer Castrello is an award-winning singer based in the Washington metropolitan area. A veteran of the theater and opera, she has delighted audiences with her versatility on the stage. Ms. Castrello will be interpreting standards from the Latin American songbook. Accompanying her is the internationally renowned piano virtuoso, José Cáceres.

A Northern Virginia spin-off of an award-winning group in their home country of El Salvador, Los Hermanos Lobo perform at family events and restaurants in the area. The seven-piece ensemble—with its two violins, two guitars, percussion, and bass—takes its name from its large bass, which resembles a chanchona, or sow. The members are Trinidad Lobo, vocals and violin; José Osmín Lobo, chanchona (bass); Efraín Lobo, violin; Elizeo Lobo, guitar; Alfredo Lobo, conga; and Jonathan Lobo, drums.

Founded in 1991 by Diana V. Sáez, Coral Cantigas is the only chorus in the Washington area with the mission of increasing awareness and appreciation of the many rich styles of Latino choral music (Latin American, Spanish, and Caribbean), and promoting diversity by uniting communities through the joyful and transformative power of music.

Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo and Nancy Wang weave traditional stories with music and theater, drawing on the folktales and myths of Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, and other Asian countries. They often embellish plots with bamboo flutes and bring characters to life with animated facial gestures. The duo tours nationally and internationally, and has been featured at the Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater and at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

From harmonies to banjos, ukuleles to swing, and old-time country music to original songs, these two-time GRAMMY winners provide something for everyone. Cathy and Marcy’s folk, country, and family music has entertained the Queen of Thailand, delighted families at the White House Easter Egg Roll, rocked the AFL-CIO, and graced hundreds of folk festivals.

Led by Nicholas Sironka, a Maasai artist and Fulbright recipient living in Kiserian, Kenya, Friends of Sironka has performed traditional Maasai dances in England, Korea, South Africa, and the United States. The group helps fund Enkishon Nataana/The Prosperity that is Near, a non-profit development agency with a focus on women’s education and healthcare.

George Washington University's all-female South Asian fusion dance team was founded in 2001 and represents a unique blend of various dance forms, including filmy, folk, raas, bhangra, classical, jazz, modern, hip hop, and lyrical. The team was founded upon the common understanding that dance is more than just movement—it is a way of life. Chamak performs at various events and competitions throughout the year and recently started an annual showcase.

George Washington University's Garba Dance team performs traditional dance from the Indian state of Gujarat. They have performed nationwide and were awarded first place at Naachvention 2008, an intercollegiate dance competition in New York City. This year, they are performing a routine dedicated to traditional and modern forms of Gujarati dance.

Halau Ho‘omau I ka Wai Ola O Hawai‘i (“Through hula and halau, we remain young at heart and full of life”) is a halau (school) based in Alexandria, Virginia. Kumu Hula (hula teacher) Manu Ikaika helps to carry on the traditions of Hawaiian culture through instruction and performances, Hawaiian arts and crafts, history, language, and music.

During both Saturday and Sunday’s performances, students of the halau will offer the gift of a mele inoa, or name chant, in honor of President Barack Obama, the country’s first president born in Hawaii. Name chants, the most famous of which were composed for Hawaiian kings, are remembered for generations. The performance will include the mele inoa, performed with accompaniment, and the oli, or chant, performed without accompaniment.

Halau O ‘Aulani’s mission is to teach and perpetuate the culture, traditions, and values of the people of Hawai‘i through dance, language, art, music, history and customs. Hula is an integral part of Hawaiian culture. In its sacred and ceremonial form, it is an integrated system of storytelling, historic and religious narration, poetry, movement, and rhythm. Founded in 1996, Halau O ‘Aulani creates a learning environment for students interested in the multi-faceted cultures of Hawai‘i.

William Iggiagruk Hensley (Inupiaq) was born in Kotzebue, Alaska, about thirty miles above the Arctic Circle. His autobiography, Fifty Miles from Tomorrow (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, January 2009), recounts his life from growing up in a fishing, hunting, and trapping village to becoming a leader and tireless advocate for Native Alaskan rights. Hensley served four years in the Alaska House of Representatives and six years in the Alaskan State Senate.

Talented dancers, choreographers, and musicians, Joseck Asikoye, Justo Asikoye, Dumiszwe Bhembe, Victor Elolo Tsavani, Jojo Joseph, and Henry Tanash create an original sound that showcases African beats, vocal harmonies, and compelling guitar riffs. Touring extensively nationally and internationally, Jabali Afrika performs the hit songs “People’s Voice,” about the right to vote, and “Jenny Love.”

A Washington area institution, KanKouran West African Dance Company was founded in 1983 to introduce African dancing and drumming to American audiences. In the Mandingo culture of Senegal, KanKouran is a spiritual guide who teaches youth the meaning of manhood and womanhood. True to this spirit, the dance company works extensively with young people through its youth groups and children’s classes.

Baba Jamal is a master storyteller who employs history, humor, music, fables, and lore to bring African and African American culture to life. Blending contemporary and traditional stories with drumming, call and response, and wit and wisdom, he has brought his message of encouragement and positive choices to audiences at the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian museums, the National Storytelling Festival, the National Black Storytelling Festival, regional festivals, and schools across the country.

Little Bit a Blues combines Warner Williams’s warm vocals and Piedmont guitar picking with Jay Summerour's harmonica. Warner, a veteran of the Washington blues scene, and Jay, a former member of the Starland Vocal Band and the Cambridge Harmonica Orchestra, have been performing together since the early 90s. Joining them is Mike Baytop, director of the Archie Edwards Blues Foundation and a central figure in the acoustic blues scene.

Founded in 1979, Mariachi Los Amigos is the Washington area's longest existing mariachi ensemble. As its name implies, the group was formed by friends who share a passion for the lively, extraverted sound of the mariachi and for the wide range of music that it incorporates. The band members are Mario Castro, guitarrón; Francisco Soto, trumpet; Terry "Toni Luna" Liu, violin; Daniel "Danny" Sheehy, violin; June Welsch, violin; Daniel Herrera, violin and vihuela; Alex Valdivia, guitar and vihuela.

Born and raised in Kenya, East Africa, Anna has captivated many with her spoken word poetry, storytelling, African dance, and singing. She and her band Afrofloetry recently opened for the South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela in Washington, D.C. She has also graced the stages of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the World Bank, and the Embassy of Kenya. Anna’s goal is to educate, entertain, and unite through the universal languages of music, dance, and story.

Narrowbacks, a term Irish immigrants applied to their offspring, grew out of the well-known band Celtic Thunder, founded in 1977. They play a full range of traditional Irish reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, slides, and slow airs. They also sing a variety of songs and ballads, including original compositions by Terence Winch and Linda Hickman. The members are Terence Winch, button accordion; Jesse Winch, guitar and bodhran; Linda Hickman, flute; and Eileen Korn, vocals and guitar.

The Culkin School of Dance was founded by Sean Culkin in 1997. With more than 400 students, the group is an active member of the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore Irish-American communities. The school holds three 2008 regional championship titles and has held 19 championship solo and team titles in the last nine years.

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada's first professional choral group dedicated to Afrocentric music of all styles, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk, and blues. Founder/artistic director Brainerd Blyden-Taylor named the group after internationally-renowned African-Canadian composer R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943). The Chorale's vision is to build bridges of understanding, appreciation, and acceptance between communities, both Afrocentric and other, through the medium of music.

New Klezmer Quintet, also known as the Kol Haruach Klezmer Band, brings together some of the country’s best klezmer musicians to perform this joyous music, which combines elements of Eastern European Jewish tradition, jazz, swing, Israeli folk, popular songs, rock, and dance music. Under the leadership of Brian Choper, the quintet performs concerts across the U.S. and in Europe. Band members are Brian Choper, drums and percussion; Fred Jacobowitz, clarinet and saxophone; Vladimir Gamarnik, violin; Lou Durham, keyboard; Ephriam Wolfolk, bass.

Hailing from the Navajo Nation, The Plateros merge blues, rock, gospel, and funk with a positive message. Featuring 16-year-old Levi Platero—whose hard-driving exuberance on guitar is nothing short of extraordinary—his father, Murphy, on bass, and cousin, Doug, on drums, they have already earned comparisons to such groups as Los Lonely Boys and Indigenous.

The Revival Gospel Quartet is an ensemble of singing, harmonizing ministers who began as a trio sixteen years ago with Minister Ivory Teague, Reverend Kenneth Napper, and Deacon Robert Williams. Pastor Robert Gardner joined the group in 2006. Revival’s music ministry can be heard spreading the gospel in churches, institutions, hospitals, and organizations throughout the region.

Gayle Ross (Cherokee), a descendent of John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation during and after the Trail of Tears, has become one of the country’s most respected storytellers. Inspired by her grandmother, Gayle’s storytelling springs from a rich family tradition. She has published several of her stories in illustrated books, and has been featured on the National Public Radio programs Living on the Earth and Mountain Stage.

Seneca Rocks plays a mix of American music, from traditional folk songs such as “Columbus Stockade Blues” to more modern fare such as Johnny Cash's “Give My Love to Rose.” The members are Sally Love Connell, guitar and vocals; Dudley Connell, guitar and vocals; David McLaughlin, mandolin and vocals; and Marshall Wilborn, bass and vocals.

Spanish for “fearless,” Sin Miedo, one of Washington’s favorite local salsa bands, plays classic salsa hits from the 70s to today, as well as mambos, boleros, Latin jazz, and other Afro-Antillean music. Sin Miedo was founded in 2000, and is led by French pianist and vocalist Didier Prossaird. Performing in this festival are Alfredo Mojica, timbales and vocals; Rene Ibanez, conga and vocals; Steve Sachse, bass; Didier Prossaird, keyboard and vocals.

The SJMQ includes members of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, which was founded in 1990 with an appropriation from the U.S. Congress in recognition of the importance of jazz in American culture and its status as a national treasure. The seventeen-member big band, led by artistic director and conductor David N. Baker, serves as the orchestra-in-residence at the National Museum of American History. The Quartet, all renowned and highly accomplished musicians, draw from a vast jazz ensemble repertoire. The members are Charlie Young, saxophone; Robert Redd, piano; James King, bass; and Kennith Kimery, drums.

Tambores de San Juan (Drums of Saint John) is an Afro-Venezuelan music ensemble founded in 2004 whose mission is to promote Afro-Venezuelan culture, music and arts. The members of Tambores de San Juan play traditional rhythms, in addition to fusing their music with contemporary instrumentation. Band members are Carlos Infante, cumaco; Orlando Nieto, redoblante; Walter Herrera, palos; Juan Torres, palos; Emerson Mogollon, congas; Alberto Garcia, coro; Vanessa Del Nogar, coro; and Alexis Magdaleno, lead vocals.

The Lion Dance, passed down from generation to generation, is a traditional Chinese dance in which multiple performers, wearing a one-piece lion costume, mimic a lion's movements. The Washington Chinese Youth Club performs traditional Chinese Lion Dances at a variety of major events, including the Chinese New Year Lunar Parade in Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown and the Ten Ten Parade.

Founded by the late Colin Bears Tail (Arikara/Hidatsa), the White Oak Singers perform Northern Plains-style music from the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation of the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. The White Oak Singers have performed regularly at the National Museum of the American Indian, including during the September 2004 grand opening, where they provided drumming and singing for the first people to enter the museum. The singers are Will Reeves (Mandan/Hidatsa), Wayne Howard (Arikara), Cedric Baker (Mandan/Hidatsa), Lawrence Baker (Mandan/Hidatsa), and friends.

The Wild Zappers combine jazz, funk, hip hop, American Sign Language, and popular music to create uplifting and inspiring programs that help to build bridges between deaf and hearing communities. Their interactive school programs provide a lively introduction to sign language by illustrating the relationship between dance movements, counting, and visual cues. The Zappers have performed at the Kennedy Center, Gallaudet University, and the Apollo Theater, and their international tours have taken them to Japan, Jamaica, and the Virgin Islands.

Featuring more than 35 dance members and led by Andrew Ebona, the Yaaw Tei Yi (Herring Rock) Dancers are a traditional Tlingit cultural group from Juneau whose mission is to teach and promote Tlingit/Haida song and dance. Deriving their name from the legends of the Kiks.adi (Frog) Clan from Sitka, Alaska, the group performs traditional songs “belonging” to specific clans and which cannot be sung without the clans’ permission. Like maps, these songs explain where in Alaska the clans originate.