By Cynthia Lu: As an annual tradition for not only for the BHS Asian American club but also the Belmont community, Asian Culture Night is a completely student organized and student run event that draws quite the crowd to the high school auditorium, where captivating acts unfold one after the other onstage.
This year, Asian Culture Night was held on Saturday, May 18th. Performances ranged from taekwondo to all types of dances--Chinese, Nepali, Indian, and, perhaps the most popular, modern Kpop! Other highlights included a Chinese yo-yo routine featuring intense music, flashing lights and near acrobatic grace. The two masters of ceremonies, Christopher Giron and David Yan, facilitated smooth transitions in between acts by cracking jokes and keeping up a lively atmosphere with their rapport. Their game show introduced a touch of fun-spirited competition among members of the audience--think chopsticks, ramen, and partners. Intrigued, maybe a little confused? Check out the photo slideshow below, or better yet, we'd love to have you attend next year!
During the 15-minute intermission, popular Asian snacks like bubble tea and Pocky (which have rapidly been gaining mainstream popularity!) were available for sale, along with a variety of other foods and drinks. The show was also sponsored by local Belmont businesses that provided generous gift cards for the raffles--Chocolate Dream, Iggy's, and more. Lucky audience members picked up their prizes afterwards, which also included coveted BHS Asian American merch.
Of course, while all this was happening, "techies," or AAC club members that worked behind the scenes, managed the lights, music and countless other details that together made the show a success.
After the performances, Shine’s (located in Belmont Center!) provided free catering in the BHS cafeteria. Over plates of sushi, noodles and fried rice, audience members mingled with performers, while many AAC club seniors celebrated the end of their high school years, and their last BHS Asian Culture Night.
But what Asian Night means, especially to the club that organizes it each year, goes so far beyond the food and singing and dancing.
It is an opportunity to explore and appreciate the vastly diverse artistic aspects of different Asian cultures, as well as to appreciate the tremendous talents and backgrounds of our fellow BHS students. As for the club itself, it really is a close-knit community that offers a rare chance to bond with others over an integral part of my identity. The label Asian-American encompasses so much worth celebrating, and it is amazing to find a niche at school that is so welcoming of it. While cleaning up after Asian Night with some of my closest friends, I felt a profound sense of pride for everything we had done, tinged with the bittersweetness of goodbyes.
