On Thursday, May 1, 2025, we cordially invite you to the Opening Cocktail of the 30th edition of Festival Accès Asie! Join us as the Festival begins a month of cultural and artistic celebrations showcasing Asian talent in Montreal.
Festival Accès Asie’s 30th anniversary deserves to be celebrated in style! That’s why the Opening Cocktail party will be hosted by artist Big Daddy Queen Power, renowned for her unique energy, blending glamour and dynamism.
In the spirit of cultural transmission and celebration, the evening will feature Nina Segalowitz, Inuit artist and survivor of the Sixties Scoop. Inuit throat singer, hand drum player, and cellist, she has been sharing the richness of Indigenous traditions around the world for decades.
Audiences will also have the opportunity to discover circus artist Ryunosuke. A virtuoso juggler and an expert in Chinese pole and wood balancing. This talented Japanese artist has been shining on stages the world over, from Cirque du Soleil to the most prestigious festivals. His captivating performances, combining technical mastery and poetic movement, promise a moment of pure magic and wonder.
To end this evening in style, DJ Maya Tayara will celebrate diversity, joy, and pride in a vibrant musical performance.
For this anniversary edition, Festival Accès Asie pays a moving tribute to thirty years of commitment dedicated to showcasing Asian cultures through visual arts, music, dance, media arts, literature, and much more. The Opening Cocktail celebrates this exceptional journey and invites the public to imagine the inspiring promises of the next thirty years.
Big Daddy Queen Power is a Korean-Italian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist lucky enough to be born and raised in the vibrant city of Tiohti:áke (Montreal). Her music is inspired by experiences of self love, growth, and friendships representing light and darkness by exploring different avenues of power in both polarities.
A believer of magic and manifestation, Big Daddy is on a mission to elevate the community through joy and playfulness and to spread love through her music, with the greater goal of facilitating an experience of EXPANSION for the community and those who share the journey with her. Her live shows can be characterized as magnetic, energetic and engaging, vibrating in gratitude.
Maya Tayara is a Lebanese DJ based in Montreal and the co-founder of PARALLEL party.
With a profound belief in the unifying power of music, she curates sets that transcend boundaries and celebrate diversity.
Through her music, she pays homage to her heritage while inviting others to join in the joy of feeling good together on the dance floor.
Join Maya on a journey where beats meet cultural pride, creating an unforgettable experience of connection and celebration.
Nina Segalowitz is an Inuvialuit/Chipweyan from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. She is the proud mother of three children. A survivor of the 60s scoop, Nina graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Human Sciences, a DEP in Accounting, and a DEP in Social Work.
She has devoted her entire career to working with the Indigenous community, particularly with victims of violence, and is currently a cultural consultant for the Canadian Armed Forces, the Montreal Police, and numerous universities and schools. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Legacy of Hope Foundation.
Nina is a multi-talented artist, an accomplished Inuit throat singer, hand drummer, and cellist. Nina has performed internationally for several decades – France, Belgium, Luxembourg, USA, and all across Canada –, including a recent impromptu performance with musician Bobby McFerrin. She is a member of the group Oktoecho and demystifies Inuit culture through music and various workshops.
Ryunosuke is a multidisciplinary circus artist who mastered the art of balloon juggling, Chinese pole and wood balancing. From an early age, he was passionate about juggling and quickly distinguished himself on the international scene. He won a silver medal at the Japan Championship Otedama and a gold medal at the MJF Junior Competition in Tokyo, affirming his exceptional talent.
Fascinated by the circus world, he enriched his art by integrating dance and theater into his performances. As the first Japanese artist to attend the École de Cirque de Québec, he developed a unique act, mixing balloon juggling, the Chinese pole, and antipodism with puppets, which has become his signature.
His talent has taken him to the most prestigious stages, from Cirque du Soleil to circus festivals all over the world: Canada, Germany, the UK, Belgium, the USA, Africa, Australia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and, of course, Japan. His spectacular act, featuring six giant balloons and an impressive balancing act on a Chinese pole, amazes crowds at every performance.
Among his many honors, he won the Talents Extrêmes 2009 competition, took second place on the Zoink’d TV show in Canada, and received the Special Jury Prize at the Izhevsk International Circus Festival in 2013, as well as the title of Circus Idol 2016 in Russia. In 2020, his show “Le Grand Cirque de Ryu” won the Prix d’En Piste at the FAR Festival in Montreal.
Always striving for innovation, Ryunosuke continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, captivating audiences with impressive technical mastery and his unique poetry of movement.
Big Daddy Queen Power
Maya Tayyara
Nina Segalowitz
Ryunosuke