23 Aug 2023
Posted by Mackenzie Sato Dyck 
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The Silk & Saké fundraiser, celebrating the Aurora Dance Group’s 25th anniversary at the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba on June 4. Photo credit: Royce O’Toole.
WINNIPEG — When our group realized it was the 25th anniversary of the Aurora Dancers, we knew we had to do something special.
Recalling the success of our first Silk & Saké fundraiser in 2013, we decided to organize it again for 2023, this time with the theme “Past, Present, and Future.”
The Silk & Saké fundraiser included a 50/50 draw and social-style rainbow auction for prize baskets Photo credit: Royce O’Toole.
The first Silk & Saké was imagined as an event to showcase the Aurora Dancers and to raise money for new performance kimono and equipment for our group. This time, we wanted to raise funds for additional performance kimono and yukata to accommodate new and returning members. The event was held in Connie Matsuo Hall at the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba in Winnipeg and chaired by Alexandra Chaput. The event poster was designed by artist and past group member Hailey Sato, now based in Vancouver.
Theresa Oye emceed the show, along with Jennifer Letkemann, the stage manager. The performances consisted of four dances, including Urizun No Koro with original choreography by our teacher and leader, Lucy Yamashita, and our signature song, Hare Sugata Naniwa Odori, where we danced alongside alumni of the group. It was wonderful to reconnect with alumni members who attended additional practices to prepare for the event.
The delicious appetizer sushi by Sushi Daruma. Photo credit: Royce O’Toole.
The event included a 50/50 draw, a social-style rainbow auction for prize baskets, a cash bar with a selection of sake, including a special sake cocktail called Aurora Sunrise, delicious appetizer sushi by Sushi Daruma, and volunteer-made cookies and sweets. Many of the prizes were donations from group members, as well as JCAM sponsors, including Oomomo Japan Living and Edokko Japanese Food. A slideshow of photos from the group over the years was highlighted during intermissions.
A fashion show curated by Russell Kunz included kimonos and accessories by collector Cindy Voakes. Photo credit: Royce O’Toole.
A new addition to this year’s entertainment was a fashion show curated by Aurora member Russell Kunz and featuring kimonos and accessories by collector Cindy Voakes. The fashion show’s 11 models were our current 2023 and past ambassadors of the Japanese Pavilion of Folklorama, the largest and longest-running multicultural festival in the world. The fashion show displayed traditional and contemporary kimono styling, including Western accessories and street fashion, collector pieces, formal furisode, and creative casual.
The fundraiser closed with a special recognition of Mrs. Sachiko Conway-Shimizu. Photo credit: Royce O’Toole.
The event closed with special recognition of Mrs. Sachiko Conway-Shimizu for guiding the group in the early days with dressing and makeup workshops and Lucy Yamashita for leading the group for the last 25 years. This event could not have happened without the hard work of each member of the Aurora Dancers and their friends and families.
We were able to meet our fundraising goal with a successful application to the JCAM Community Fund Grant and the generosity and glowing support of our audience.
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