The 2025 Asia Pacific Dance Festival (APDF) is set to return to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa from May 19 to June 1, offering a rare opportunity to experience the rich dance traditions of Asia and the Pacific.
The immersive two-week experience offers workshop participants and performance attendees a deep dive into movement, music, history, language and cultural traditions.
Festival highlights
- Residents Artists:
- Hālau Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima, under the direction of Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine
- Arzoo Dance Theatre from India/Canada, directed by Deepti Gupta
- Rako Pasefika from Rotuma, Fiji, led by Letila Mitchell
- Special Tribute: A Filipino dance performance honoring the legacy of the late H. Wayne Mendoza
- Hālau Kilipohe Nā Lei Lehua, featured in a full-length evening concert
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently awarded APDF a $25,000 grant, recognizing its role in preserving and sharing these dynamic traditions.
“We are honored to receive support from the NEA for the Asia Pacific Dance Festival,” said Tim Slaughter, interim dean of UH Mānoa Outreach College. “This grant acknowledges the festival’s significant impact on the dance culture of Asia and the Pacific, as well as its role in fostering cultural exchange.”
The NEA grant will directly support the artists performing at the festival.
For more go to the Asia Pacific Dance Festival website.
