The National Park Service in partnership with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company presents the Ellis Island Asian American Heritage Festival on Sunday, May 7, 2017, with ceremony and performances starting at 12 noon at The Great Hall of Immigration at Ellis Island, located on the second floor of the main Ellis Island building. A full schedule of performances and educational workshops given by notable speakers will celebrate the 2017 Asian American Heritage Month with National Park Service.  The festival will showcase traditional and contemporary Asian American Music and Dance, with notable performing artists from the community in New York and New Jersey including the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, the Chinese American Chorus of New York, the New Asia Chamber Music Society, the Chinese American Music Ensemble and the Children's Orchestra Society.

This year, Nai-Ni Chen created new dance, Spring Breeze,in collaboration with Andy Lin of the New Asia Chamber Music Society, Children's Orchestra Society and the Chinese American Chorus of New York. Spring Breeze is based on a beloved Taiwanese folk song of the same title that is popular in the Chinese American immigrant communities around the world. In addition to Spring Breeze, the Company will also perform the opening Dragon Dance, the ending Lion Dance as well as two new, contemporary works that reflect the immigrant identity of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.

No admission ticket is required for the event. However, audience members must take a ferry to Ellis Island for the festival. Ferry tickets are available for purchase at Statue Cruises in Castle Clinton in Manhattan in Battery Park, and in the Liberty State Park of Jersey City, NJ or online at www.statuecruises.com.