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ChinatownMagic.Com:
Welcome To Your Chinatown Connection!
No visit to San Francisco is complete without a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, a ride on a cable car, and an authentic Chinatown experience. We can’t bring you the bridge or a cable car, but with our impressive roster of unique talent,
ChinatownMagic.Com can bring the spirit of Chinatown to any event!
Our featured performers include acrobats, taiko drummers, Chinese traditional musicians, Polynesian dancers, fortunetellers, calligraphers, the ever-popular lion dancers and more. We specialize in coordinating all your catering needs with many of Chinatown’s premier restaurants.
And of course, ChinatownMagic.Com proudly presents its world-class signature magic act Tamaka and
The Empress. This renowned and talented duo has performed at venues all across the country including the famous Magic Castle in Los Angeles (The “Broadway” of the Magic World).
ChinatownMagic.Com has produced successful events for Fortune 500 companies, five-star hotels, museums, yacht clubs, major regional festivals and community groups. Our decades of experience will help you tailor the perfect event for your audience.
Whether you’re in the market for a spectacular full-scale variety show, a dazzling individual performance, or just a taste of Asian culture,
ChinatownMagic.Com is your one-stop shop for Chinatown-theme entertainment.
Call us now at (415) 793-1183 to discover the magic of Chinatown . . . the magic of
ChinatownMagic.Com!
Photography ©Troy Chinn
Tamaka And The Empress
ChinatownMagic.Com proudly presents the world-class signature magic act
Tamaka and
The Empress. This renowned and talented duo has performed at venues all across the country including the famous Magic Castle in Los Angeles (The “Broadway” of the Magic World).
Master illusionists Tamaka and
The Empress are native San Francisco talents who have toured all over the world
performing magic ranging from close-up sleight of hand to grand stage illusions.
Famous for their dynamic stage presence and unique performing
style,
Tamaka and
The Empress have received many accolades for their magical
prowess.
However, what truly sets these two apart from the crowd is not the fact that
they are seasoned prestidigitators.
Their mission is to bring the power of their magic to disadvantaged children via school performances that teach self-empowerment and self-esteem. For the past fifteen years, they have worked closely with many communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, including local Native American and Asian American groups.
Tamaka and The Empress are always a smash at conventions, parties, magic shows and the like. But, don't forget to consider them for your upcoming fundraising and charity events as well. ChinatownMagic.Com is thrilled to represent this dynamic duo and welcomes your interest and inquries!
Walk-Around Talent
Planning an event of any size can seem like a daunting
affair. Every detail is important and the big event is what concerns everybody
involved in the process.
But what are your guests, clients and employees doing between the symposium,
lunch in the hotel bistro and that keynote speech at the end of the day? Why
not charge up their spirits and keep their interest-levels at peak potential
between the main events!
ChinatownMagic.Com is here to help make things fun and productive during the
down time with a myriad of walk-around talent. What about a gypsy
fortuneteller to dazzle and amaze? Or, perhaps a friendly geisha?
Maybe a welcoming clown . . . a provocative nightclub fan dancer . . . a
mystical Chinese magician? How about a 10-foot tall stilt walker dressed
in carnival colors? Hard to fall asleep with all that going on!
By the way, our family of walk-around talent is also well received at wedding
receptions, anniversary parties, birthday bashes and the like!
If you can dream it up, we probably already have what you need. And on the
rare occasion we don't, we'll do all we can to get the right talent for the job.
ChinatownMagic.Com loves a great event and we specialize in working the details. Event planning can be challenging, but it's also great fun. Let us be your partners for that gala event and together we'll celebrate a successful production from beginning to end.
Ribbon Dance
It is with great pleasure that we at ChinatownMagic.Com
present the traditional and popular Chinese ribbon dance for your upcoming
festivities.
An emperor of China who reigned during the Tang dynasty (618-907 A.D.) had
dreamed of a palace where he was surrounded by beautiful dancing fairies in
colorful flowing robes. His dream became a command for a dance with
spectacular displays of long silk ribbons to make his dream a reality. The
traditional Chinese ribbon dance, once performed only for royalty, is now
popular among all audiences for its grace and beauty. It has also been said that
many of the dance's flowing ribbon movements actually mimic the stylistic
artistry of Chinese calligraphy.
Another highly requested performance piece is the powerful dance
of the Chinese woman general (bottom right of photo) named Mu Gui Ying of
the Northern Song Dynasty (960 to 1127 A.D.). Mu Gui Ying loses her husband,
leader of China's Imperial Army, as well as his thirteen brothers in the battle
against northern invaders. Upon hearing the sad news, she vowed to carry out her
husband’s wish of protecting the frontier. She successfully led a band of women
warriors to defeat the enemy.
This is an explosive and colorful solo dance performance with myriad jump and
spin moves incorporated into its choreography. The antennae on the woman
warrior's headpiece sway to and fro throughout the dance and add dynamism to the
spectacle. It is a real show stopper that ends with the audience left in
absolute awe.
Let ChinatownMagic.Com bring to life the artistry of these traditional
dances and make your next extravaganza an event to remember!
Asian Rhythm
Variety is the spice of life . . . at least that's what
some say. We at ChinatownMagic.Com agree with this philosophy.
That's why we make it our mission to bring to you the broadest spectrum of Asian
dance and rhythm talent in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Everything from traditional Chinese operatic influences to Mongolian Steppe folk
arrangements, ChinatownMagic.Com delivers the complete Asian Rhythm
Nation.
Planning an outdoor South Pacific theme? Book one of our Polynesian dance
packages and hula your way into a great party. If you want to wake up the
tired and weary and deliver a shot in the arm to your annual corporate
get-together, order up a traditional Chinese drums and cymbals troupe to
energize the festivities.
Traditional and lounge-style Chinese fan dancers make a great addition to any
occasion. And don't forget the fan-dancing monks who help ward off evil spirits,
bring in good fortune and tame the spirits of the Chinese lions and dragons at
your event, so the full potential of their benevolent energy can be realized.
ChinatownMagic.Com is excited to serve you. Our goal is to keep the
beat going and enliven the pulse of all your future celebrations!
Taiko Drummers
The lively spirit of taiko music and its high-energy drummers are a
perennial crowd-pleaser. Requested for all occasions, big and small, ChinatownMagic.Com
delights in presenting our taiko drummers for your forthcoming
celebration!
The origin of taiko began in Japan around 2,000 years ago. Taiko drums
have been used in wars, religious ceremonies, for insect control, pure
entertainment, and in many other Japanese cultural aspects. The word taiko
literally means 'drum' in Japanese.
The first recorded use of taiko drums was as battlefield instruments. The drums
were used to intimidate and scare the enemy, to issue commands, transmit S.O.S.
signals and the like. The powerful sound of the taiko drums could be heard
across the entire battlefield.
Over the
centuries, as taiko music has developed into a uniquely Japanese form of
expression, it has been nourished by many musical forms both foreign and
domestic to Japan. And,
as taiko has evolved, a larger and larger stable of drums has come into its domain.
Whether its historical roots touch upon the passions of your spirit, or its
driving, thunderous beat infuses a spontaneous rhythm into your feet, let ChinatownMagic.Com
introduce to your upcoming gathering the intensity of Japanese taiko
drumming !
Traditional Chinese Music
It is with great honor that we at ChinatownMagic.Com showcase the
traditional essence of Chinese musicality. Steeped in tradition almost as old as
the culture itself, traditional Chinese music makes its way to the
present day via a 5000-year-old collective conscience that is the true Han
spirit, the heart and soul of the collective peoples of China. In each
ancient instrument lives an echo from China's distant beginnings.
Traditional music in China is played on solo instruments or in small ensembles
of plucked and bowed stringed instruments, flutes, and various cymbals, gongs,
and drums. The scale has five notes.
Bamboo pipes and qin are among the oldest known musical instruments from China;
instruments are traditionally divided into categories based on their material of
composition: skin, gourd, bamboo, wood, silk, earth/clay, metal and stone.
Chinese orchestras traditionally consist of bowed strings, woodwinds, plucked
strings and percussion.
Chinese vocal music has traditionally been sung in a thin, non-resonant voice or
in falsetto and is usually solo rather than choral. All traditional Chinese
music is melodic rather than harmonic.
The qin is perhaps the most revered instrument in China, even though very few
people know what it is or have seen and heard one being played. Most popular are
the zheng, a form of
zither and the pipa, a kind
of lute, believed to have been introduced from the Arabian Peninsula area during
the 6th century.
ChinatownMagic.Com applauds your interest in these classical musical
forms and welcomes all questions, queries and suggestions for incorporating them
into a well-planned and thoughtfully arranged affair.
Chinese Calligraphy
So, what's in a name? A lot if you're Chinese! A
ChinatownMagic.Com hit for corporate events and parties of all sorts is the
Chinese calligrapher. With her sense of aesthetics and harmony, the Chinese
calligrapher will craft your name into meaningful Chinese characters and
meticulously brush them onto a Chinese paper fan for you to keep. She will also
explain to you the significance of the Chinese characters that comprise it so
that you can show off to all of your friends and relatives, with pride and
confidence, your brand new Chinese name.
In the past, when Chinese elders named a new born baby, they took several factors into
full consideration: the astrological principles, the birthdate, the array of
five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth) told by a fortuneteller, the
form, pronunciation, and the meaning of the name. People aren't as superstitious
as before, but there are still some rules of thumb to be followed.
Of foremost importance is the balance between the baby's birthdate and the five
elements in its life. Try to remedy these defects with an appropriate name.
Next, try to avoid the same initial consonant and simple or compound vowel
(of a Chinese syllable), and the same tone in the characters is not
preferred either. As to the form, a character with not too many strokes nor the same
radical component will be a good choice. Finally, remember that the
preference for the meaning of a character changes from era to era.
A lot to consider, hmm? Not to worry . . . just relax and leave the naming
wizardry to the experts at ChinatownMagic.Com. We guarantee a
perfect fit every time. Your clients, friends and family will be amazed
and entertained. Absolute fun for all . . . guaranteed!
Fortuneteller
ChinatownMagic.Com presents the much sought after clairvoyant talents of
our seers of things yet to be. Fortunetellers, prognosticators, whatever you
prefer, the future is theirs to see.
When am I going to meet the person of my dreams? When will I finally get
married? What kind of career changes are up ahead? Will I get that raise the
boss promised? When is he ever going to dump the trash without me asking first?
Will she ever let me host poker night with the boys?
These questions and many others can and will be answered for you.
ChinatownMagic.Com's soothsaying talents have traveled the world over
seeking out the knowledge of the ages, and with great anticipation, look forward
to sharing it with you at your next convention, powwow, party, corporate event,
or any other imminent get-together.
There is no better way to keep your clients, friends, family . . . guests of all
sorts engaged and curious than with the magnetism and charisma of one of our
fortune-telling geniuses.
ChinatownMagic.Com awaits your call and predicts that you will be in
contact shortly. Perhaps we should leave the forecasting to one of our trained
experts instead? We think so. Just one note . . . even though our
fortunetelling team is of the highest caliber, all predictions and prophecies
are for entertainment purposes only.
Afterall, life is like the universe and
full of mysteries. One never can have total domain over things
supersensory. We at ChinatownMagic.Com look forward to your telepathic
transmission. Of course, Email or telephone will do nicely as well!
The Lion And The Dragon
No Chinese new year celebration is complete without numerous
mythical lions and dragons of a Sinological nature on the scene! We at
ChinatownMagic.Com invite you to experience the fortuitous and fruitful
influences of these legendary creatures at your upcoming event.
Chinese lion dance dates back over a thousand years. The first recorded
performance of the original lion dance occurred in the early Ch’in and
Han Dynasties (3rd century B.C.).
Lions represent happiness and joy. In traditional China, lion dance
groups toured villages all across the countryside between the fourth and
fifteenth of the new year.
Both lions and dragons play significant roles in key celebrations
throughout the Chinese lunar year. The lion dance also plays an important
role in the sanctification of temples and office buildings. It is a de facto
standard for
grand openings, periods of planting and harvesting, official celebrations and
religious ceremonies as well.
Dragons represent immortality, procreation and fertility. The earliest
documented dragon dance occurred around 200 B.C. during the Han dynasty.
The dance was performed to bring on rain during a period of drought.
Nowadays, we all know the long and winding dragon as the pièce de
résistance of the many Chinese new year parades held around the world.
So book
your next lion and
dragon with ChinatownMagic.Com and you'll be well on your way to
having a prosperous and successful year!
Plate Spinner
ChinatownMagic.Com loves dishing
out the spin on fun! Everybody craves a plate of Chinese from time to time, but
how about a dozen or so plates being spun by a real chef . . . Chinese style and
in no short order! Truly . . . an amazing sight to behold and share with a
roomful of your favorite clients, friends and family!
Plate Spinning is a traditional acrobatic act dating back to the Han
Dynasty (206BC-220AD). Performers traditionally manipulated one plate with a
long stick, with no changes in the routine for centuries. In the 1950s, actors
from the acrobatic troupe (under the General Political Department of the Chinese
People's Liberation Army) introduced a new routine where they spun 10 plates
with both hands while performing various body movements.
Order this exciting flavor of Chinese artistry "to go" for your next
shindig. The amazing plate spinner will begin with one simple plate and will
soon fill the stage with a dozen or more plates which he keeps spinning
simultaneously!
His menu also includes balancing a kitchen cooking pot and some country-fresh
eggs on his head. This order is guaranteed to please any crowd
hungry for the savory flavors of unique Chinese entertainment!
Let ChinatownMagic.Com deliver this sizzling and scrumptious order to
your forthcoming extravaganza. Your guests will watch with hungry eyes and
end up with a full and satiated spirit. Fortune cookies are optional!
Chinese Acrobatics
ChinatownMagic.Com proudly presents the best of the ancient Chinese acrobatic
tradition. Our skilled and dedicated contortionists will bedazzle you with their
feats of strength and flexibility that seemingly defy all known physical laws.
The acrobatic arts have existed in Chinese history for over two thousand years.
Chinese acrobatics has its roots in the everyday lives of the artisans and
farmers of ancient China.
Instruments of labor like tridents, wicker rings and articles of daily use such
as tables, chairs, jars, plates and bowls were used in their acrobatic
performances.
The rudiments of Chinese acrobatics appeared as early as 475 B.C. During the
Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), the number of acrobats and their performing skills
improved greatly.
Chinese acrobatics came into its own between the seventh and tenth centuries
(mainly during the Tang Dynasty), when performances were often held at the
imperial court.
Leave your clients, guests and friends spellbound as they soak in the almost
impossible. What better way to telegraph the message that anything can be
accomplished if one is dedicated and focused on the goal. And let's not forget
it's just plain fun and a real kick in the pants to watch. Call
ChinatownMagic.Com right now to put a little twist into your life!
Stage Acts
ChinatownMagic.Com is proud of its connection to the
traditions of the myriad
far-off lands that comprise that which is Asia-Polynesia. But we are also
pleased to present our countless nightclub and stage acts that hearken
back to a bygone American era.
There once was a time when people actually got dressed up to go out for a night
on the town, which might have even included a dinner and a show. ChinatownMagic.Com
features countless stage acts that blend that flavor of nostalgic
Americana in a special Asian-American way.
Chinatown San Francisco back in the 1940s and '50s was a hopping port town that
saw its share of military personnel and vacationers from around the country. And
many of those visitors came to the nightclubs in and around Chinatown for
first-class stage acts.
Torch singers, crooners, ballroom and tap dancers, magic acts, variety shows, cabarets featuring showgirls and chorus lines and even a little burlesque . . .
ChinatownMagic.Com is the place for all that and more.
Good ol' American nostalgia with that distinctively San Francisco Chinatown
inflection. Now that's a winning combination! Let ChinatownMagic.Com
take you with us down memory lane . . . into an exciting world of live
entertainment, smoky stages, and a martini or gimlet shaken not stirred. Black
tie and cufflinks are optional!
Festival and Large-Event Planning
We at ChinatownMagic.Com are honored to organize and direct the annual
San Francisco Chinatown Moon Festival held every September. We have been in
charge of planning event schedules, managing budgets, procuring talent and
coordinating logistics for the Moon Festival since its inception in 1990.
The Moon Festival showcases San Francisco Chinatown's many cultural
assets. This marquee event has been a smashing success for almost two decades.
Upwards of 100,000 people partake in one of San Francisco's largest public
festivities every September.
Orchestrating and executing an event of this magnitude for
the past eighteen years has given us at
ChinatownMagic.Com a wealth of experience.
Furthermore, it has been our pleasure to procure and manage numerous San
Francisco locations for various television and film productions over the past
fifteen
years (many of which filmed right in the heart of San Francisco Chinatown).
We are confident that whatever the scale, ChinatownMagic.Com is the right choice for your event planning needs.
How About A Tour?
Planning a corporate event? How about a tour to boost company morale!
ChinatownMagic.Com specializes in coordinating groups of all
sizes with various tours in the San Francisco Bay Area, including a
San Francisco Chinatown favorite, SF Chinatown Ghost Tours. Here's
what they're saying about it . . .
Voted #1 "Favorite Things To Do In San Francisco".
"Best Value" Rated.
- AOL.Com
"If You're Lucky, You May Just Happen Upon One Of
The Many Undead Spirits Said To Be Roaming Its Dark, Narrow
Streets And Passageways."
- The San Francisco Examiner
"A Tour For People That Love Mystery But Aren't
Afraid Of The Dark!"
- SanFranciscoBayCrossings.Com
"Definitely More Interesting Than Your Usual
Chinatown Bus Tours Loaded With Retirees."
- Nichibei Times
"Strongest Features Of America's Oldest Chinatown
Are The Ghosts Of Its History, Exposed In A One-Woman Tour Now
Running In San Francisco."
- Golden Gate X Press
"Chinatown Will Never Be The Same For Me Anymore. I
Will Feel All Of The Stories."
- Member of the Red Hat Society Frugal
Floozies
Still Kicking It!
San Francisco Chinatown's Nostalgic Nightclub Cabaret . . . available for conventions, parties, festivals and events . . . ChinatownMagic.Com proudly presents the much talked about and highly requested Grant Avenue Follies!
The group's motto is ". . . Keeping Alive And Bringing To Life The Legacy Of San Francisco Chinatown's Golden Nightclub Era . . .
". Former California State Senator Jackie Speier says the
Grant Avenue Follies is just as much a San Francisco legacy as the
famed Beach Blanket Babylon.
Every dancing member is in their 60s, 70s or 80s! The Grant Avenue Follies was originally comprised of four professional dancers from
San Francisco Chinatown's nightclub culture of the 1950s and ‘60s.
While following
doctor’s orders to exercise for improved physical health, they
rediscovered the sheer joy and freedom of dance and reconnected with
their roots! Dance classes led to recitals and eventually requests to
entertain seniors at various San Francisco Bay Area daycare facilities.
Now the group has expanded to twelve members, including one male dancer,
Chuck Gee, who was formerly the costume designer for the famed Forbidden
City Nightclub. One of the women is a retired dentist, another is a
retired middle school principal and the lead singer is a practicing
attorney. As one might expect, the Follies enjoys a loyal following of
seniors, many of whom frequented the Chinatown nightclubs of the '40s,
'50s and '60s such as the Forbidden City and the Sky Room. However,
the Grant Avenue Follies has recently seen its share of
appreciation from "20-somethings" taking interest in its unique roots
in San Francisco Chinatown show business history.
Our Clientele
We at ChinatownMagic.Com are extremely thankful to our loyal
clientele base. We strive to always find new and innovative entertainment
and provide the best event experience possible for our valued customers.
We look forward to serving all of you who have made us the success we have been
over the years. And, we welcome any and all newcomers to our family of
esteemed patrons.
This is a partial and continually-growing list
of our most valued and cherished clients.
Thanks to all of you for an extraordinary history and a true sense of magic that
we at ChinatownMagic.Com take to heart everyday.
May all your gatherings be magical!
Your friends at ChinatownMagic.Com
Contact Us
Thank you for visiting ChinatownMagic.Com. We hope you
have enjoyed your stay. You have only experienced a sample of what we have to
offer. We invite you to contact us to request any talent or services you may be
interested in. General inquires are more than welcome.
We take pride and pleasure in crafting unique entertainment and event packages.
Creativity, customer satisfaction and that daily morning cup of coffee is what
keeps us going at ChinatownMagic.Com.
We look forward to hearing your ideas and working with you on your upcoming
entertainment needs. Whether it is planning entertainment for a convention of
thousands, or crafting that special surprise gala event for a few hundred of
your closest friends, ChinatownMagic.Com invites you to make us your
partners in the festivities.
Thank you for your inquiries and we look forward
to working with you.
All the best!
The Staff at ChinatownMagic.Com
Phone: (415) 793-1183
Email: Info@ChinatownMagic.Com
Some Other Interesting Websites . . .
Viator.Com - Viator Travel
Worldwide travel getaways and tour packages . . . See the world and leave the planning to Viator.Moonfestival.Org - The Annual San Francisco Chinatown Moon Festival
The Moon Festival showcases the community's many cultural assets - Upwards of 100,000 people partake every September (since 1990).
SF Chinatown Ghost Tours.com - Ghostly Tour Of San Francisco Chinatown's Streets And Alleyways
Learn the history and the mystery that is San Francisco Chinatown! A tour for people that love mystery but aren't afraid of the dark!
GrantAvenueFollies.Com - San Francisco Chinatown's Nostalgic Nightclub Cabaret
Keeping alive and bringing to life the legacy of San Francisco Chinatown's golden nightclub era of the 1940s, '50s and '60s . . .
Tamaka.Net - Tamaka & The Empress
Tamaka & The Empress are magicians with a message - A non-profit group that performs magic to educate San Francisco Bay Area youth.
Kans708.Com - Kan's Chinese Seafood and Dim Sum Restaurant
Savor this renown 1960s San Francisco Chinatown classic.
FourSeasR.Com - Four Seas Chinese Restaurant
Experience authentic eastern cuisine in the heart of San Francisco Chinatown.
ChineseChef.Org - ChineseChef.Org Dining Guide
Great Chinese Dining Guide for San Francisco Chinatown and the Bay Area.
AsianChef.Org - AsianChef.Org Dining Guide
Guide to dining out Asian style in the San Francisco Bay Area.
WokShop.Com - The Wok Shop
Chinese woks, recipe books and more . . . Take a bit of San Francisco Chinatown home with you.
©2008 ChinatownMagic.Com