Performances 2021
On the NIIC MainStage each year, we feature moving, spirit-lifting performances by diverse artists working in many genres – grassroots and nationally renowned talents alike. Meet the artists who performed at NIIC 2021 here.
Aja Monet is a surrealist blues poet, storyteller, and organizer born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She won the legendary Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam poetry award title in 2007. Her poems explore gender, race, migration, and spirituality. In 2018, she was nominated for a NAACP Literary Award for Poetry and in 2019 was awarded the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award for Poetry for her cultural organizing work in South Florida. Aja also facilitates “Voices: Poetry for the People,” a workshop and collective in collaboration with Community Justice Project and Dream Defenders. She is currently working on her next full collection of poems entitled, Florida Water.
Ruby Ibarra is a rapper and spoken word artist from the San Francisco Bay Area. She released her debut album, CIRCA91 at the end of 2017 and has since toured across the United States at universities, empowerment conferences, music venues and spaces including the National Mall in Washington, DC, The Getty Center and the De Young Museum. Ruby has been featured on notable publications such as NPR, Huffington Post, South China Morning Post, Buzzfeed, XXL Magazine and was featured in a Grammys/MasterCard commercial and campaign with R&B singer SZA. Ruby’s music is available on all digital platforms and can be heard in several museum exhibits, films and television features.
Mariachi Joya is proud to represent Las Vegas High School. Composed of the top 10% of Vegas' 240-student program, Joya strives for both academic and musical excellence. The "jewel" of the desert is excited to announce its debut record "JOYA", coming soon.
Las Vegas Kaminari Taiko was formed in 1993 by George Goto and Doug Muraoka under the name “Las Vegas Taiko.”George served as the drum maker and Doug was the director. After practicing on tires and building their own drums, LV Taiko became LV Kaminari Taiko because of the impressive thunderous sounds the drums made. As part of the Las Vegas chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, it is LVKT’s mission to spread the art form of taiko to the Southern Nevada community and celebrate its cultural diversity. Over the past 20+ years, LVKT has performed all over Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas at schools, conventions, casinos, and community festivals. LVKT maintains the traditional roots of taiko instruction, while bringing some modern flavor and influence into their music. LVKT consists of students and performers of all ages who are taught and directed by Jennifer Caballero.
Grupo Folklórico Libertad de Las Vegas (GFLLV) was founded in Spring, 2017 by Karla Villalobos-Cardenas and Juan Aburto-Cardenas. It was proclaimed by the City of Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman as the first established “grupo” folklorico representing Mexico in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unlike ballet folklorico which uses classical ballet as a base, Libertad solely focuses on respecting Mexico’s traditions without any alterations. GFLLV was created with the purpose to accurately represent, educate, and preserve Mexico’s traditional folklore. They proudly represent Las Vegas in all types of local, national, and international events. Despite its recent beginnings, Libertad has been featured many consecutive times in the media and has performed for various organizations and national business conventions, including international performing artists. GFLLV was scheduled to perform in Paris, France last year, which was unfortunately postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daniel Park is a musician and singer currently based in Las Vegas, NV. An accomplished violinist, guitarist and singer, he was selected as one of the top 100 acts in Season 7 of “America’s Got Talent,” and his "Sidewalk Guitar" EP is the current hold music for the online shoe and clothing company Zappos. Daniel has performed for events and companies all over the world including Australia, New Zealand and China, including a six-month residency at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore and a nine-month residency at the Park Hyatt in Beijing. He has held residencies at the Lily Bar and Lounge inside the prestigious Bellagio Hotel and Casino, the Mandarin Bar inside the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, and at the Red Rock Casino.
DJ Quame (bio coming soon)
Sweta Verma is the Family Services Coordinator of the Asian Community Development Council. She graduated from BRA Bihar University with a Bachelor in Arts Degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Information Technology, Majoring in English Honors from the former. She enjoys community service opportunities, assisting the AAPI community through her work in ACDC as a family Service coordinator. She speaks HINDI,URDU,BANGALI,and PUNJABI. Her area of expertise utilized her avid skills in communication, management, team building, and organization. Her previous work ascertains many other community service opportunities. This includes the Vice President of the Australia P&C Organization serving for 2 years. She also worked with UNICEF under their child labor program. Before her work at ACDC, she served as an Application Support Analyst for Bank of America for 1.5 years and Language Interpreter for CCSD for 3. Her job duties included providing customer service resolution, training with the BOA enhancement initiatives for the Prepaid Card System, and verbal/written interpretation in a school setting. In her free time, she enjoys singing and volunteers her skill at the Hindu Temple for teaching others classical from her roots. Her music skill development is also based on a Post Graduate Degree in Classical Vocal Music.