Featured 2024 performers
ARCINDA (The Art and Culture of Indonesia)
ARCINDA brings together Indonesian artists, dancers, musicians and others from across the metro area. Executive Director Anie Pelletier earned an MBA at the University of Denver in 1995 and received a scholarship from Indonesia. Dance is her hobby since childhood and became her talent. ARCINDA has performed before at Global Fest.
Previously featured on CBS4
Colorado Ethiopian Community
Returning to Global Fest for another year, this group stands out due to their authentic representation of Ethiopian culture, blending traditional music, dance, and attire to create an immersive and captivating performance. They aim to share not just entertainment but also a piece of Ethiopian heritage, fostering cultural understanding and appreciation. Tariku Shele, an accomplished dancer who immigrated from Ethiopia, has been performing since childhood. His journey of preserving and promoting Ethiopian dance in the diaspora is inspiring and adds depth to our performance.
With nearly 5,000 identified residents, Ethiopians make up the largest immigrant group in Aurora behind Mexico.
Latino Arts & Cultural Institute
Performing for a fifth time at Global Fest, Latino Arts & Cultural Institute is dedicated to promoting and preserving Latino arts and culture in the community. Through various programs and initiatives, they strive to showcase the richness and diversity of Latino heritage while providing educational opportunities and fostering a sense of belonging for all. The organization is led by LGBTQ+, women and immigrants. The group’s leaders (Daniela, Vivian and Julio) have stories of coming to this country, working hard to get access to higher education, promoting cultural heritage and supporting members of our community in achieving their goals.
Mak G (Soulful Band) – Afro-fusion band
Made up of three African immigrants, Mak G blends musical genres like jazz, funk, reggae, and hip-hop with traditional African rhythms. Michael Gbenda is the band’s founder and saxophone player. He grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Despite limited access to formal music education, his passion for music never wavered. Drummer Samuel Odia is also from Lagos, and learned to play drums when he joined a church in the USA. His deep connection to his cultural roots bring the band an authentic and vibrant energy. Emmanuel is from Kampala, Uganda and took classic piano lessons at a young age. He came to the U.S. to pursue musical dreams.
Sangre de México Folkloric Ballet
They are a Mexican Folkloric group made up mostly of women, and this is their fourth year at Global Fest. They have performed in different cities such as Las Vegas, Chicago, Portland and soon will present in Cartagena, Colombia.
USTKDcenter (Taekwondo)
This will be USTKDcenter's second time performing at Global Fest. The first was in 2019.
Ki Soo Jung, the Owner and Grandmaster, came to the United States in 1986 and opened his first dojang (taekwondo school) in Aurora. He was a four-time U.S. National Team Coach and was a previous sparring champion in Korea. He came to the United States with his passion and knowledge of Taekwondo to spread it to hundreds of students throughout his many years of teaching the martial art. The performance team has members who made it to the US Team Trials and even made the US National Team! Currently, Grandmaster Jung is also the Korean Association President and former Colorado State Taekwondo Association President.
Venezuela Renaciente – Venezuelan folk dance with Latin salsa
Venezuela Renaciente was founded by Diana Meneses, a professional dancer with over 19 years of experience in the field of Venezuelan folk dance and other genres. She arrived in Colorado in 2018. She wanted to show the Venezuelan culture and started folk dance classes with six Venezuelan children.
Today, they have more than 35 children of different nationalities (Peru, Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, USA). They have previously performed at Global Fest and participated in the Global Fest Fashion Show.
Youth Culture Ambassador of NTPC
This group comes from New Taipei City in Taiwan. They incorporate Hakka cultural elements into their performances, particularly through the traditional tea-picking dance. They wear the blue shirts typical of Hakka attire to allow the audience to immerse themselves more deeply in the experience. One member named Yi-You is from Taiwan and has a unique background with Minnan, Hakka, and indigenous heritage. Her family used to hide their indigenous roots because of Taiwan’s history, but once Yi-You found out, she was determined to reconnect. Now, she’s learned all sorts of traditional skills and languages, and she takes part in many tribal events.