Included with paid museum admission; free for members
Experience the diverse music of Southeast Asia through curator talks, traditional dances, and live performances.
Programming supported by the Arizona Asian American Association
Programming supported in part by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and Arizona Commission on the Arts
All activities happen on Saturday and Sunday unless noted otherwise.
Craft: Wayang Puppet 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. South El Río Make your own traditional wayang puppet resembling a human, animal, or mythical figure. Check out the Indonesia: Gamelan exhibit to see a wayang kulit performance in action.
Instrument Exploration: Gamelan Ensemble 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Experience Gallery Try your hand at playing gamelan instruments! Explore the unique sounds of gongs and metallophones, instruments with rows of tuned metal bars that are struck with mallets.
Photo Booth 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. El Río Have your picture taken in our hands-free photo booth! Digitally share your pictures and tag us with #MIMphx for a chance to be featured on our social media.
Guest Talk: Vietnamese Musical Instruments: Diversity and Distinctiveness 10:30–11:00 a.m. Event Room 2 Explore the richness and specialization of Vietnamese traditional instruments and learn how they have endured in modern life with Dr. Phan Thuận Thảo, deputy director of the Institute for Research and Conservation of Music in Vietnam.
Gallery Tour: Southeast Asia 11:30–11:45 a.m. Asia Gallery Learn about the various Southeast Asian musical instruments in MIM’s collection with our curator for Asia and Oceania, Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu.
Pop-Up Performance: The Sound of Ðàn Tranh 12:15–12:30 p.m. Central El Río Enjoy a performance featuring the sounds of the đàn tranh plucked zither, one of the most popular traditional instruments of Vietnam.
Film Screening: Bali: Beats of Paradise 12:30–1:30 p.m., Saturday Event Room 2 Watch a documentary celebrating the beauty of Bali and exploring the modern ethnomusicology of Indonesia, featuring Grammy-winning artist Judith Hill and Indonesian composer Nyoman Wenten.
Performance: Lion Dance Opening 1:00–1:15 p.m., Sunday North El Río Experience a cherished traditional dance deeply rooted in South China’s Guangdong province and among Chinese communities in Southeast Asian countries.
Performance: Cultural Fashion Show 1:15–1:45 p.m., Sunday North El Río Enjoy a fashion show hosted by the Arizona Asian American Association, showcasing a variety of traditional garments from various Southeast Asian regions.
Pop-Up Performance: Rojak Jam 1:45–2:00 p.m. Central El Río Experience Rojak Jam’s arrangements of Malaysian traditional folk songs for voice, gamelan, and piano.
Workshop: Thai Flower Dance 2:30–3:00 p.m., Saturday Event Room 2 Take part in this interactive dance workshop from the Academy of Asian Art Foundation Thai flower dancers!
Performance: Robam Neary Chea Chour Cambodian Traditional Dance 2:15–2:30 p.m., Sunday North El Río Experience a dance that represents the rich cultural heritage of the Khmer people.
Performance: Binasuan Filipino Folk Dance 2:30–2:45 p.m., Sunday North El Río Enjoy a graceful performance of the binasuan Filipino folk dance, which shows off the balancing skills of the dancer.
Performance: Salip and Banga Dance 2:45–3:15 p.m., Sunday North El Río Join the Bisaya Dance Group of Arizona for a performance of two Filipino dances originating from Northern Luzon. The salip is a ritual courtship dance, and the banga represents the stamina and strength of Indigenous women.
Performance: Thai Flower Dance 3:30–4:00 p.m., Saturday North El Río Don’t miss your chance to watch an engaging performance from traditional Thai flower dancers as they display the beauty of one of Thailand’s most intricate dance styles.
Performance: Dok Champa Lao Dance 3:15–3:30 p.m., Sunday North El Río Experience the beauty and elegance of this dance celebrating the national flower of Laos, the dok champa (plumeria).
Performance: Trống Cơm Dance 3:30–4:00 p.m., Sunday North El Río Join the Ca Dao Group of Arizona for a performance of the festive trống cơm (“rice drum”) dance, which originated in the north region of Vietnam.
Lunch at Café Allegro Offered daily 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Enjoy a menu of delicious global cuisine with fresh entrées, salads, soups, and grill items showcasing local produce and flavors from around the world.
Shop the Museum Store The Museum Store will feature music of Southeast Asia, as well as travel and language guides, handmade crafts, and musical instruments from several countries.
Members save 10% on most items in the Museum Store and online. Every purchase benefits MIM and its programs.