Cultures in Motion | YMCA of the Chippewa Valley

CULTURES IN MOTION
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025

CULTURES IN MOTION

EAU CLAIRE DOWNTOWN YMCA

The Eau Claire Downtown YMCA invites the community to celebrate Cultures in Motion—a free event honoring the vibrant cultural diversity of the Chippewa Valley. Experience an exciting lineup of performances, demonstrations, and hands-on activities highlighting traditions from around the world, including Tai Chi, Chinese Calligraphy and music, table tennis, folk dancing, and family-friendly gym games.

The YMCA will be open to the public from 6 AM–6 PM, offering opportunities to explore the facility, enjoy open gym and swim times, and stop by the Child Watch and Kids Gym open house. Guests can also enjoy complimentary coffee, cookies, and cultural snacks throughout the day.

WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 2025

WHERE: Eau Claire Downtown YMCA

TIME:

10 AM–1 PM: Full Schedule below
6 AM-6 PM: The Eau Claire Downtown YMCA will be open to the public for free
COST: Free - Pre-registration is encouraged, and a photo ID is required.

SPORTS & GAMES:

Table Tennis – Watch two of the Chippewa Valley’s top table tennis players – Mei Blake & Carter Tacke - compete in an exhibition game. Afterwards, try your own hand at the game with instruction from members of the Chinese-American Friendship & Scholarship Society.

10:00-10:30 AM – Exhibition Game (Schaaf Gym)
10:30-11:30 AM – Learn to play table tennis (Hobbs Gym)
11:30 AM-12:00 PM – Exhibition Game (Schaaf Gym)
12:00-1:00 PM – Learn to play table tennis (Hobbs Gym)

Gym Games – Let your kids run around and enjoy a variety of fun activities with YMCA staff.

10:00-11:00 AM - Kids ages 3-7 years (Schaaf Gym)
11:00 AM-12:00 PM – Kids ages 8-12 (Schaaf Gym)

Peek at Pickleball - Curious about the pickleball craze? Come and give it a try!

DANCE:

Zumba – Join in one of the YMCA’s most popular group exercise classes. Zumba is a cardo fitness, dance party that is so much fun! The Latin inspired, cardio fitness is a fun workout that has frequently been referred to as, “exercise in disguise”. Zumba fitness is the most diverse program known to bring a very diverse community of people together from all corners of the planet to

share one similar passion of music and dance! (9:00-10:00 AM, Group Exercise Studio)

Tai Chi – Tai chi is a traditional Chinese mind-body practice that uses slow, flowing movements, deep breathing, and meditation to improve physical and mental well-being. It combines gentle exercise with a meditative state to enhance balance, flexibility, relaxation, and concentration, and is suitable for people of all ages and physical conditions. Members of the Chinese-American Friendship & Scholarship Society will perform three different styles of Tai Chi: Yang Style Tai Chi 8 Form, Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan, and Ba Duan Jin (Eight Pieces of Brocade). Audience members will be invited to learn the Ba Duan Jin. (10:30-11:00 AM and 12:00-12:30 PM, Group Exercise Studio)

Folk Dancing – Join Eau Claire International Folk Dancers to learn dances from around the world (11:00-11:45 AM, Group Exercise Studio)

Hmong Dancing – Learn a traditional Hmong dance taught by Pearl Xiong and the Siab Zoo dance troupe. Siab Zoo will also perform. (12:30-1:00 PM, Group Exercise Studio)

THE ARTS:

Author S.Z. Putnam – S.Z. Putnam is an author and poet who unapologetically writes about "the hard things in life," much like her debut book Loose Change: Picking up the Pieces (2022). Through her poetry, she exposes the trauma that so many carry on their own in the hopes of rebuilding faith as a collective community. She will read four poems on how it felt to grow up through assimilation into American culture, on trying to hold on to her heritage, on holding the pain of the diaspora of her people and on finding herself. (10:00-10:30 AM, Community Room)

Chinese Music – Dr. Jianjun Ji will perform Chinese songs using four traditional Chinese musical instruments: the gourd-flute, harmonica, Er-Hu, and flute. (10:30-11:00 AM and 12:30-1:00 PM, Community Room)

Chinese Calligraphy – Dr. Jianjun Ji will use traditional brushes, black ink, and special paper to demonstrate the four schools of Chinese calligraphy. (11:00-11:30 AM and 12:00-12:30 PM, Schaaf Gym)

Mooncakes - Making and sharing mooncakes is one of the hallmark traditions of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. In Chinese culture, a round shape symbolizes completeness and reunion. Thus, the sharing and eating of round mooncakes among family members during the week of the festival signifies the completeness and unity of families. Stop by the Community Room to taste this traditional dessert. (11:30-12:30 AM, Community Room)

GET INFORMED:

Healthy Eau Claire – Learn how this organization is helping people with Parkinson’s Disease find connection and exercise through the sport of table tennis, plus other efforts to promote healthy lifestyles for the people of the Chippewa Valley. (10:00 AM-1:00 PM, Schaaf Gym)

Child Watch & Kids Gym Open House – Child Watch is a FREE drop-in babysitting service for children ages 6 weeks to 10 years. This service is available for those with YMCA Family Memberships. Kids Gym is a fun space open to our members. Stop in, have some fun, and learn about these great perks offered to our members. (11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Lower Level)

YMCA Information Table – Learn about all the benefits of becoming a member of the YMCA, get information on programs, and learn about how the Membership for All programs aids people in joining the Y. Stop by and say hello and grab a cookie. (10:00 AM-1:00 PM, Entrance Lobby)

EXPLORE THE YMCA:

Cardio & strength training facilities: