Disco YES!, a Chinatown block party, is taking place this Friday, November 17. The Block party is all about everything creative, with dance performances, music, and contemporary art installations. Art Exhibition tours will also be available along with the highly-anticipated pop-up.
The block party promises to be a lively event, with a performance from the Grant Avenue Follies, a group of senior dancers throwing it back to the golden age of SF’s Chinatown clubs. The group includes professional dancers from the 1950s and 60s who reconnected with their love of dancing in their advanced age, and they continue to wow crowds with their performances.
Another performance to look forward to is the Lion Dance Me, which combines traditional Lion Dance with contemporary entertainment. The company has clubs in various local high schools. Finally, SF DJ Marky Enriquez will spin away during the block party.
The art pop-up includes a Paper Cut Demonstration by artist Hou Yumei, a master of the Chinese art of paper cutting. Artist Bijun Liang’s playful inflatables will also be featured at the block party.
Fostering community through art
The art block party comes after the great success of the night market last weekend, which packed thousands of people on Grant Ave. The night market focused on showcasing food from Chinatown vendors. Meanwhile, the upcoming block party is focused on all things art. The Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco and Edge on the Square are partnering to host the event.
Supported by the Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco, The Chinese Culture Center opened in 1973. The CCC is “dedicated to elevating underserved communities and giving voice to equality through education and contemporary art.” according to their mission statement.
Edge on the Square aims to be a hub for the community that celebrates creativity, working with artists to create civic engagement. Edge states, “We engage with art and storytelling as instruments to expand our capacity to convey humanity as is and to ignite our imaginative vision of what could be.” on their website.
Disco YES! occurs on Friday, November 17, from 3-6 pm at 800 Grant Ave.