Emcee

Social activist by day, socialite by night, Aleksa Manila is a celebrated and respected drag personality who has engaged audiences across the region as a host/emcee, speaker and performer. Aleksa founded Pride ASIA, whose mission is to celebrate, empower and nurture the multi-cultural diversity of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer communities through the Asian Pacific Islander lens. When “not-in-face,” Aleksa is the Program Manager at Public Health - Seattle & King County, focused on health disparities that impact marginalized groups in King and Snohomish counties. 

Keynote Speaker

Jamie Ford is the author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which spent two-and-a-half years on the New York Times bestseller list and won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. It was also named the #1 Book Club pick in 2010 by the American Bookseller Association and is now read widely in schools all across the country. This multi-cultural tale was adapted by Book-It Repertory Theatre, and has been optioned for a stage musical in NYC, and for film, with George Takei serving as Executive Producer.  An award-winning short-story writer, his work has been published in multiple anthologies, from Asian-themed steampunk set in Seattle in the Apocalypse Triptych, to stories exploring the universe of masked marvels and caped crusaders from an Asian American perspective in Secret Identities: The first Asian American Superhero Anthology, and Shattered: The Asian American Comics Anthology. He’s also written in other genres: speculative, dystopian, crime noir, and middle-grade horror. His latest novel, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy, was named #1 IndieNext list pick for August 2022. 

Auctioneer

Ron Hippe is a veteran Seattle actor, musician, singer-songwriter, improviser, emcee, and auctioneer. He has appeared on Broadway in New York City in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Kentucky Cycle and has performed locally in productions with the Intiman, ACT, and Seattle Rep theatres. When not auctioneering, Ron performs comedy improvisation with Seattle's TheatreSports (Unexpected Productions) and has worked with improv companies around the globe.

Performers

Afsaana Dance Company was created in 2011 when founder and artistic director Geeta (she/her) identified a feeling she’s had her entire dance life: that dance was neither inclusive nor diverse. So she created a space for herself and others that honors what is unique in all of us. Afsaana Dance Company provides a distinct perspective of traditional South Asian movements and contemporary innovations. Geeta has found a delicate balance in fusing Indian classical and folk styles with Western methods.