Join Pao Arts Center for a family-friendly day of exploration of our current exhibit presented by the Arab American National Museum, Arab Massachusetts: Building Community in the Commonwealth, on view November 19, 2025–February 13, 2026. In the 1800s, Arab and Chinese families have lived side by side here in Chinatown. To celebrate this shared local history, drop by for an afternoon of dance, music, and hands-on activities designed to highlight the culture, history, and vibrancy of Arab and Chinese communities.
This event will feature a range of activities, demonstrations, and performances from the following artists and groups: Hajj Wafaa (Arabic Calligraphy), Gengyi Li (Chinese Calligraphy), 胡清白鹤派 Woo Ching White Crane School (Lion Dance), the Nahda Project (Dabke Dance), Jadhibia Ensemble (Arabic Music), Maple Leaf Senior Dancers (Chinese Plaza Dance), and the Boston Little Syria Project.
This celebration is programmed as part of the Arab Massachusetts: Building Community in the Commonwealth exhibit hosted at Pao Arts Center and presented by the Arab American National Museum (AANM).
SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES
1:00 PM Lion Dance with Woo Ching White Crane
1:30 PM Boston’s Little Syria Talk with Lydia Harrington
2:15 PM Music by Jadhibia Ensemble
3:15 PM Chinese Dance with Maple Leaf Seniors Dancers
4:00 PM Dabke Dance Performance and Workshop with Nahda Project
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
1:00 – 5:00 PM
Poster Making
Boston Little Syria Project
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Arabic Calligraphy with Hajj Wafaa
Chinese Calligraphy with Yi Li
About the Artists
The Boston Little Syria Project is a public history initiative aimed at drawing attention to the history of Boston’s Little Syria neighborhood (also known as Syriantown), which thrived between the 1880s and 1950s in today’s Chinatown and South End. In addition to offering public walking tours from time to time, they have written about the neighborhood, curated several exhibitions around Boston, and developed a digital map with support from the Leventhal Map and Education Center at the Boston Public Library.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Yi Li (李耿依) is a Greater Boston based multimedia artist and designer. Having studied Chinese brush painting since an early age, the style heavily influences a lot of their artwork. Current area of interest include the Bird and Flower (花鸟) and dragons.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Hajj Wafaa (Arabic Calligrapher)
Hajj Wafaa is a master calligrapher and educator, founder of the House of Islamic Arts in Massachusetts. Born in Iraq in 1971, his passion began at 14 when he saw his uncle form the letter “Dāl.” Self-taught during exile in the Rafha refugee camp, he mastered classical scripts—Naskh, Diwani, Thuluth, Ruqʿah, Farsi—and traditional techniques of ink and qalam making. Since 2011 he has taught across major U.S. universities and cultural centers including Harvard, MIT, and Worcester Art Museum, inspiring students to see Arabic calligraphy as both visual art and spiritual discipline, preserving its heritage through education and exhibitions.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Jadhibia Ensemble (Arabic music)
The Jadhibia Ensemble is a Boston-based ensemble dedicated to promoting and teaching both classical and contemporary Arabic music through performances, workshops, and educational programs. In Arabic, Jadhibia (جاذبية ) is the word for gravity (in the physic sense). Founded by multi instrumentalist Alejandro Castellano, the Jadhibia ensemble brings together musicians committed to preserving tradition while exploring new artistic pathways. This performance will feature: Alejandro Castellano, Jamal Sinno, Layan Hawila, and Basem Batbota
Image courtesy of the artist.
Maple Leaf Senior Dancers (Chinese Plaza Dance)
Maple Leaf Senior Dancers is a group of senior dancers who take weekly dance classes at Pao Arts Center. Their last performance for Pao Arts Center was during Experience Chinatown Festival in 2022.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Nahda Project is a collective of scholars, activists, dancers and organizers who hail from the Arab diaspora. Rooted in heritage and based in Boston, we aim to preserve and uplift our culture through community building, art and Dabke: our folkloric, communal line dance from the Levant.
Image courtesy of the artist.
The Woo Ching White Crane School opened in Boston Chinatown in the late 1990's. The school promotes the traditional system of Southern Chinese Lion Dance & Kung Fu, originating in Toisan in Guangdong Province, China. Our lion dance and performances bring luck, happiness and prosperity to all students and audiences alike. The mission of our school is to carry on the arts and strong spirit to future generations.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Related Programming
Arab Massachusetts: Building Community in the Commonwealth
November 19, 2025 - February 13, 2026
This groundbreaking exhibit sheds light on the vibrant stories of Arab American communities in the state from the late 19th century until the present day.
Little Syria Tour (Sold Out)
Saturday, November 22 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Expand your understanding of the exhibit through a guided walking tour from Chinatown to the South End with scholar, curator, and co-founding member of the Boston Little Syria Project, Lydia Harrington.
About the Partner
The Arab American National Museum (AANM) is the first and only museum of its kind in the United States devoted to recording the Arab American experience. It serves as a touchstone that connects communities to Arab American culture and experiences. Since opening in 2005, AANM’s goal has been to document, preserve and present the history, culture, and contributions of Arab Americans. Exhibitions cover the Arab world and the history of Arab Americans from the first immigrants who arrived in the late 19th century to today. It offers safe spaces for open dialogue and community gatherings and provide educational opportunities for children and students of all ages to expand their knowledge and appreciation of Arab American history and culture. They work with established and emerging artists of all artistic mediums to uplift their work and share it with our regional and national audiences. All of this is intended to build community through the arts by showcasing our nation’s cultural diversity in thoughtful and impacting ways.