On Friday, May 18, the DU Asian Student Alliance (ASA) hosted their 11th annual eXpressions and Taste of Asia event, which consisted of a variety of Asian cuisine from local vendors followed by the eXpressions show featuring both local and student performers.

Taste of Asia featured a wide range of Asian food, including Indian, Chinese and Thai, and it was a popular event, with all the food gone before the two hours was up.

ASA Vice President Steven Kim was the energetic emcee for eXpressions, cracking jokes and keeping the audience engaged throughout the show. Local groups such as Tai Kung Ha, BLOCK 1750, Denver Taiko, Tricks & Blows and Machinez Remainz performed everything from hip hop dance to traditional Japanese drumming.

Student performances were just as diverse. Highlights included masterful Lamont School of Music students William Cálix on the piano and Kevin Miranda playing classical guitar, as well as powerful spoken word poetry from Isaac Vargas and a mesmerising Hawaiian dance by Pualani Tupper. A few student groups performed together, such as DU’s South Asian Student Association, who put on a medley of Bollywood dances, and the Eritrea Ethiopia Group, doing a medley of Ethiopian dances. Other students sang covers and mashups of songs, anything from traditional Vietnamese tunes to Broadway numbers.

Throughout all the performances, the students in the audience cheered, laughed and hyped up the performers—the atmosphere was pure and supportive, genuinely excited and looking to recognize the talent the community had to offer. The event truly encapsulated the diversity of DU and Denver’s Asian-American community, as well as the sheer joy and fun of sharing the arts in a carefree environment.

Keep up to date with future ASA events through their Facebook page.