LOS ANGELES – In conjunction with the exhibition, Boyle Heights: The Power of Place, Great Leap and the Japanese American National Museum will present nine performances of “To All Relations: Memories of Boyle Heights,” a poetic fusion of stories, music and dance drawn from the lives of the people of Boyle Heights, beginning on Saturday, January 25 at 2 pm through Sunday, February 2, 2003 at 4pm.

These performances culminate Great Leap’s “To All Relations” residency project, which began in October 2002 with free community workshops at the Japanese American National Museum. For the past several months, participants have been hard at work during weekly sessions with Great Leap artists and guest musicians to craft their personal stories into short performance pieces that capture the spirit and energy of LA’s oldest multicultural neighborhood.

In addition to Japanese American, African American, Latino, and Jewish community participants, performers include singer/performer Nobuko Miyamoto, performance artist Dan Kwong, Eastside musician Ruben Guevara, and Taiko drummer Maceo Hernandez. The performances will be held in the gallery of Boyle Heights: The Power of Place at the National Museum.

Founded in 1978 by Artistic Director Nobuko Miyamoto, Great Leap’s mission is to create, produce and present works that give expression to the multicultural experience through performances and residencies. Great Leap is dedicated to using the arts to cross cultural borders as a powerful force for positive social change. Since 1998, Great Leap has led “To All Relations” residencies throughout the United States in diverse communities such as Watts, Phoenix, San Jose and Detroit.

Performance dates and times are as follows: Saturday and Sunday, January 25 and 26 at 2pm and 4 pm, Thursday, January 30 at 7:30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, February 1 and 2 at 2 pm and 4pm. Admission is free with museum entry, and reservations are strongly recommended. To RSVP, please call (213) 250-8800. PLEASE NOTE: ALL SHOWS ARE SOLD OUT! WE ARE SORRY, BUT WE ARE NO LONGER TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR THESE PERFORMANCES.

The Japanese American National Museum is located at 369 E. First Street in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles. Parking is available across from the museum and on nearby streets. Museum admission is $6 for Adults, $5 for Seniors (age 62+), $3 for Students and Children (ages 6-17), Museum Members and Children age 5 and under are Free.

“To All Relations: Memories of Boyle Heights” is supported in part by California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, The Gas Company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Japanese American Community Services, Target Stores, Hitachi, Ltd., Meissner Manufacturing Co., Inc., and The Aaroe Charitable Associates Foundation and the Friends of Great Leap. Great Leap, Inc. is a participant in the New Generations Program, funded by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for the American Theatre.

For more information regarding the Boyle Heights residency contact Nona Chiang.

Updated: 1/28/03