Students present in the Community Commons last Friday night may have noticed a certain air of excitement radiating from the Grand Forum. Those who did not pick up on this aura would have instead noticed the enormous line that snaked its way out of the forum and doubled back three times to accommodate the sheer amount of people.
Such a massive attendance and anticipatory atmosphere could only be created by one of the University of Denver’s most anticipated cultural events of the year: the Asian Student Alliance’s (ASA) Lunar New Year Celebration.
Friday’s event marked five years since ASA began hosting its annual celebration. Though it is a relatively young tradition for the organization, the professionalism and ambition with which ASA’s officers execute the evening rivals that of any University of Denver heritage event. The reputation of the celebration was evident in the turnout.
Well over 200 attendees from the University of Denver campus were present for the evening. Undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, faculty and members of the wider Denver community all came together for the evening. A few guests from the Xi Delta chapter of the Sigma Lambda Beta Latino fraternity at the Metropolitan State University of Denver also came to show their support.
The wide range of attendees highlighted the importance of community connection during the event. To further solidify the theme of togetherness, once the ravenous guests had been fed, ASA officers conducted a fast-paced game with volunteer participants. A cross between musical chairs and a scavenger hunt, players were tasked with retrieving a certain type of object from the audience before returning to their seats on stage as fast as they could to avoid elimination.
The mood of the forum was instantly energized as players darted to and fro, and spectators rushed to provide the players with water bottles, glasses, chapstick or whatever object the round required.
After the dust had settled and a winner had been named, it was time for the performance section of the night’s schedule. ASA sourced many of the featured performances from organizations and companies around the Denver area, though the evening’s performances kicked off with a demonstration from an on-campus group.
Members from the University of Denver’s Taekwondo club stunned the crowd with their powerful series of choreographed musical routines, high-flying kick sequences and bouts of sparring. The inspiring first performance highlighted the active presence of East Asian cultural practices on campus.
Following this was a magical lion dance performance from the GDPT Nguyên Thi?u Buddhist Youth Group. The audience was decidedly enthralled by the spirited movements and rhythm of the dance, as well as the personalities that the performers lent to each individual lion.
Following the lion dance was a fan dance performance that blended an ancient transition of dance with modern-day music. The dancers displayed mastery of their art while executing their choreography to the sounds of contemporary East Asian pop.
Taking a small intermission, ASA’s officers then announced the winners of the night’s raffle, each receiving a hefty bag full of snacks and various swag. Immediately after came another dance, a co-ed fan performance from H??ng T? Bi.
The dancers yet again featured Asian culture with a modern, multicultural twist. The initial number in the set was performed as a blend of traditional nón lá dance with a partnered component, almost reminiscent of a ballroom dance. This was followed by a series of elegant fan dances by the female dancers and concluded with another energized number with all performers involved.
With this, the evening came to a close. Friday’s Lunar New Year Celebration was truly a testament to the dedication, thoroughness and love of the Asian Student Alliance. Few events on campus manage to bridge cultures and communities in the way this event does. As we move forward into the new year, we can only hope to bring the same passion and openness into our own lives.
To learn more about the Asian Student Alliance, be sure to check out its Instagram and Crimson Connect page.
