National Cherry Blossom Festival - official website - Washington, D.C.

Saturday, March 27, 2010
401 F Street, NW
Take Metro to Judiciary Sq Station, Red Line

Family Day, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Opening Ceremony, 4:00 - 5:30 pm

Opening day marks the beginning of the two-week long celebration of the cherry blossoms and the commencement of spring in Washington, DC.

For the fifth year in a row, free Family Day festivities will be presented jointly by the Festival and the National Building Museum in anticipation of thousands of families from around the region and nation that will attend.

The National Building Museum offers three engaging Japanese-inspired activities. At Animals Around Town, explore the significance of animals in Japanese and D.C. architecture and make reliefs for homes by picking out animal “protectors” to carve into self-hardening clay. BRIDGing Communities has attendees construct a Japanese-style garden bridge using basic craft materials while celebrating the relationship between the U.S. and Japan. Learn about traditional Japanese theater in the Kyogen Theater Stage Design area, where kids design their own stage sets and place sample characters inside, re-enacting a favorite story.

Try on traditional Japanese clothing and make spring picture frames with the National Children’s Museum. Create an eco-vase by decoupaging recyclable plastic bottles with newspaper with The Washington Examiner. Plant seedlings in and decorate biodegradable Cowpots. With American Forests, adorn a cherry blossom tree with pink, white and red tissue paper and help their tree “blossom” throughout the day. Blossom the Treeture also makes a special appearance. With The Textile Museum, Family Day artists-in-training make hanging koi (goldfish) from paper and fabric to suspend from ceilings at home. In the Westwood College area, adults can vote for their favorite graphic design entry in the Festival’s first-ever BLOSSOM! Design Challenge while kids have their caricature drawn or face painted, always a Family Day favorite.

Inside on the main stage, amongst the bustling activity, hear the sounds of

impressive groups like Nen Daiko, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington’s Teen Arts Performers, Washington Toho Koto Society, Levine School Suzuki Strings, Culture Shock and Future Shock dance teams, Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe, Bach to Rock Music School and The Washington Ballet School of Ballet.

At the Outdoor Performance Pavilion, enjoy a special appearance by DESPICABLE ME “minions,” and the beat-thumping sounds of E.W. Stokes Steel Drum, East of the River Steel Drum, and the Washington Showstopper Community bands.

For more information, e-mail ncbf@downtowndc.org.

2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony is a National Cherry Blossom Festival tradition that embraces the true meaning of the Festival – the celebration of spring, cross-cultural exchange and community. His Excellency Ichiro Fujisaki, Ambassador of Japan, leads the tableau of Washington dignitaries to welcome the crowd that fills the majestic balconies throughout the Great Hall of the National Building Museum. The program begins at 4:00 PM.

With a resounding opening, The Shigeyama family, famous Kyogen players with a history dating 400 years, performs “Sambaso,” the most sacred and celebratory of all plays in the Noh and Kyogen repertoire. The troupe is comprised of five actors and three musicians. “Sambaso” dances celebrate fertility and good harvests.

Miss DC 2009 Jennifer Corey continues the program with the U.S. National Anthem. The twenty-two year-old cum laude graduate of Washington’s American University majored in music, concentrating in vocal performance. Jen has studied voice for ten years and is currently employed with the Washington National Opera in the Placido Domingo Apprentice Program.

Iori Kotake, soprano, is a native of Tokyo, and performs the National Anthem of Japan. Beginning her vocal studies at the age of five, Iori continued her education earning a degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Miami School of Music. Performing in over 30 productions at companies including the Florida Grand Opera, The Lyric Orchestra and Washington National Opera, Iori continues to perform in concerts and oratorios as a soloist throughout the U.S.

Celebrated 30-year-old composer and solo pianist Tempei takes the stage next. He studied piano at Osaka University of Arts, and his amazing technique combined with his passion, knowledge and curiosity makes his compositions original and exciting. From delicate ballads to enriching classical and forceful rock-influenced pieces, his vast style cannot be tied to any specific genre. Tempei currently splits his time between New York and Tokyo, continuously studying and writing more music.

The Washington Ballet returns for the second year, with three members of the Studio Company performing variations from Grand Pas Classique, La Bayadère and La Esmeralda. Japanese natives Ayano Kimura, Tamako Miyazaki and Yuka Oyoshi dazzle the audience with their grace and prowess. All three women are seasoned dancers who have been recognized internationally for their accomplishments in the world of ballet.