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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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869 results for: Performing Arts and Music

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Image of Bruce Lee and Sheldon Wong in martial arts pose, 1961
Photograph

Bruce Lee and Sheldon Wong in martial arts pose, 1961

Legendary martial artist Lee Jun Fan (1940-1973), known professionally as Bruce Lee, was born in San Francisco, raised in Hong Kong, and attended college at the University of Washington in Seattle, before moving to back to California. During his time in Seattle Lee began teaching martial arts, and later his Hong Kong and Hollywood-produced films elevated the traditional Hong Kong…
ID Number:2000.107.111.30.04
Date:1961
Image of The Main Attraction performing at the Northwest Music Awards Show, Seattle, March 22, 1992
Photograph

The Main Attraction performing at the Northwest Music Awards Show, Seattle, March 22, 1992

The Seattle a cappella quartet The Main Attraction was formed in 1981 when singer Tony Graves called Antowaine Richardson and Lee Conerly to start a singing group; Ronnie Rowland soon joined them. Using the name of Graves' previous, disbanded group, The Main Attraction started out signing on street corners and in local bars, but soon began singing on bigger stages,…
ID Number:2000.107.117.23.01
Date:1992
Image of Dancers performing a traditional Mexican dance, Seattle, May 5, 1989
Photograph

Dancers performing a traditional Mexican dance, Seattle, May 5, 1989

In this image dancers, front to back, Clary Morales, Michael Gonzales, and Teresa Goodhue, all members of Grupo Bayano, perform a traditional Mexican dance as part of the Cinco de Mayo celebration held at Seattle Central Community College. Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph
ID Number:2000.107.124.40.01
Date:1989
Image of Dancers performing at Cinco de Mayo celebration, Seattle, May 4, 1984
Photograph

Dancers performing at Cinco de Mayo celebration, Seattle, May 4, 1984

In this image, professional dancers Cathy and Isaac S. from Yelm, Washington perform a hat dance during the Cinco de Mayo celebration at Seattle Center Community College. Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.
ID Number:2000.107.124.40.03
Date:1984
Image of
Photograph

"Flex" of Chicanos in Aztlan demonstrating break dancing, Seattle, January, 1984

In this image "Flex" demonstrates the kickworm, a break dancing move, while friends in CIA, or Chicanos in Aztlan, look on. The CIA, an ethnic youth group, was created in the early 1980s by friends to preserve their Mexican heritage and display their ethnic pride. Caption information source: The Seattle Times, January 29, 1984, page 25Caption information also derived from…
ID Number:2000.107.124.40.05
Date:1984
Image of Kurt Cobain performing at the Paramount Theater, Seattle, November 1, 1991
Photograph

Kurt Cobain performing at the Paramount Theater, Seattle, November 1, 1991

Nirvana had their beginnings in the Seattle grunge scene, and widely popularized alternative rock. Members Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) and Krist Novoselic (b. 1965) were from Aberdeen, Washington.Here, Kurt Cobain performs at the Paramount Theater during a Nirvana concert in November 1991. Their recently released second album “Nevermind” was climbing in the charts, propelled largely by the unexpected popularity of the…
ID Number:2000.107.132.29.01
Date:1991
Image of Nirvana performing during MTV taping at Pier 48, Seattle, December 13, 1993
Photograph

Nirvana performing during MTV taping at Pier 48, Seattle, December 13, 1993

In December 1993, the cable channel MTV recorded its “Live and Loud” concert special in Seattle. To be aired on New Year’s Eve, the concert was originally set to feature both Pearl Jam and Nirvana, but Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam's vocalist) had come down with the flu and had to cancel. After sets by the Breeders and Cypress Hill, Nirvana…
ID Number:2000.107.132.29.02
Date:1993
Image of Kurt Cobain performing at Seattle Center Arena, January 7, 1994
Photograph

Kurt Cobain performing at Seattle Center Arena, January 7, 1994

Nirvana had their beginnings in the Seattle grunge scene, and widely popularized alternative rock. Members Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) and Krist Novoselic (b. 1965) were from Aberdeen, Washington.Nirvana performed at the Seattle Center Arena on January 7-8, 1994, the last stop on their fall tour. Band members celebrated the end of the tour by trashing their instruments as well as the…
ID Number:2000.107.132.29.03
Date:1994
Image of Shirley Parker performing at Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center, Seattle, December 20, 1982
Photograph

Shirley Parker performing at Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center, Seattle, December 20, 1982

In 1969, the City of Seattle used federal Model Cities funds to purchase a building for use as a community center, the Chevra Bikur Cholim Synagogue, which was designed in 1915 by B. Marcus Priteca (1889-1971) and located at 104 17th Avenue South in the Central District neighborhood. In 1971 the building became the home of what is now known…
ID Number:2000.107.138.12.01
Date:1982
Image of Won Ldy Paye with students at McGilvra Elementary School, February 19, 1988
Photograph

Won Ldy Paye with students at McGilvra Elementary School, February 19, 1988

Won-Ldy Paye is a storyteller, dancer, drummer, and artist from Tapita, Liberia. He was trained by his grandmother to remember and retell the stories of the Dan people of northeastern Liberia, and is a member of the Tlo Ker Mehn, the class of professional Dan entertainers who are keepers of the oral tradition. Paye immigrated to the US in 1990…
ID Number:2000.107.139.04.01
Date:1988
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