Melody Takata’s hand-painted “sensu” fan shimmered beneath the spotlights of Knuth Hall. Her bright red kimono sleeves flowed slowly as her graceful hand gestures told the audience a story while her face remained expressionless.

All of the emotion within her performance came through her dance.

Takata’s colorful and culturally charged dance on April 14 was one of many performances for ImprovisAsians! 2008, “Origins of Now,” a series of public dialogues, workshops and performances by Asian American artists. The event was part of Asian Improv aRts, which runs from April 14 to 18.

“The pieces performed today are works in progress,” said Francis Wong, musician and creative director for Asian Improv aRts. “Performing your work in front of an audience is just part of the artistic process.”

Takata performed “Shochikubai,” a multidisciplinary work in progress. She was accompanied by Tatsu Aoki who played a three-string Japanese lute called the shamisen, native San Franciscan poet Genny Lim, and dancer Lenora Lee, who danced alongside Takata.

“Shochikubai” is a Japanese cultural icon that combines pine, bamboo and plum in a floral-type arrangement that symbolizes good luck and represents hope and optimism for the future, according to the brief description in the program. It is one of three pieces by Takata representing current issues and changes in San Francisco’s Japantown and throughout the Japanese American community.

“San Francisco has a huge Asian American and Pan-Asian community,” SF State alumna Lim said. “It’s rare that American artists know cultural traditions and I think students should be exposed to fundamental art forms.”

Dohee Lee performed the second performance, entitled “Sori,” which means “sound from everywhere” in Korean, while she was accompanied by Aoki, on bass, and Wong on the saxophone.

Lee opened her performance with a rhythmic beat she produced from striking a changgo, an hourglass-shaped drum that was strapped to her petite frame. The combination of Lee’s drum and Wong’s saxophone represented the sounds from the sky like rain and thunder, Lee said.

Lee danced vigorously across the entire stage to the beat of her drum before moving onto the second segment, which she performed in “Pansori,” a Korean opera. She performed “Simchungga,” which tells the story of a daughter’s love for her blind father. Her powerful voice echoed off the theater walls as she sang the story in her native Korean language.

“This is a great way for Bay Area Asian American artists to stay cultural and in connection with their roots,” Lee said. “Something like this can grow into next generations. It’s a way to show appreciation for our ancestors.”

Origins of Now is a collaboration of AIR and jazz and world music studies and is hosted by the College of Creative Arts, the College of Ethnic Studies and AIR.

This year’s Origins of Now will end with “Sound Come Unity,” a grand finale concert honoring the 40th anniversary of the College of Ethnic Studies on April 18. The concert will be led by SF State professor Hafez Modirzadeh and will feature an ensemble of SF State faculty and alumni. The concert will be held in Knuth Hall at 7:30 p.m. and admission is free for students.

For further information on Asian Improv aRts, visit the official site at www.asianimprov.org.