Over the past two years, Asian communities have faced an increase in anti-Asian racism, including the Atlanta spa shootings and COVID-19-related targeting. These difficulties only make this year’s rendition of the annual Chapel Hill tradition of Asian Night more special. An annual celebration of Asian culture through diverse showcases, the event is a partnership of Asian Student Association (ASA) from CHHS and East’s Asian Pacific American Club (APAC). It is organized by East seniors Daniel Wu, Zoe Chu and Henry Liu, along with Chapel Hill senior Laura Cai.
After two absent years due to the pandemic, Asian Night is finally coming back and it will be held Friday, April 8 from 7-9 p.m. in the East auditorium. Tickets are $7, available with cash right before the showcase on April 8, at East during lunch on April 7 or through the K12 Payment Center online.
Although it’s called Asian Night, it’s not only for Asian people to watch. In fact, the main point is to help a diverse audience gain a better understanding of Asian culture and communities from the showcases.
“Asian Night is a showcase where we give anyone a chance to represent their Asian culture, or anyone who’s interested in Asian culture to come and perform, so that we can spread Asian diversity and culture to people who may not be familiar with it,” said senior Christina Ahn, who is going to perform a skit with Squid Game OST and dance to Blackpink Mashup this year.
Asian Night brings awareness to the different Asian cultures at East, a chance for people to see diverse Asian cultural music or dances.
People could also have a chance to see some traditional performances. Junior Binghan Li will be performing Peking Opera, which is fast disappearing from the stages.
“[Peking Opera] is a part of Chinese history, [and that’s] my understanding to spread more Asian culture,” Li said.
Many groups will be performing Asian pop culture dances and songs. Junior Annie Wu and Cindy Wan’s dance group will be performing a K-Pop song from NCT called “Cherry Bomb.”
There’s going to be something new this year and that’s the Dragon Show.
“We’re opening with a Dragon Show. They’re going to go through the audience. We’re opening and closing with that, which we’re really excited about,” said Chu, who is a co-president of APAC.
Liu has participated in every Asian Night during his high school career, and as a graduating senior, this will be his last performance. Along with organizing, this year he will be performing two songs.
“I’m excited,” Liu said, “I did [Asian Night] in eighth grade and freshman year and I will have a chance this time. I hope it will end with a bang,”
Other than the performances, this whole showcase is a charity event.
Asian Night is going to be a fundraising event to raise money for One Sky Foundation to help orphans in Asia, all the money would be going toward this foundation. The donation will give these children particularly those with special needs access to educational resources and nurturing care.
Asian Night is also an opportunity for some Asian parents, who may have immigrated to the United States from other parts of the world, to reconnect with their cultures.
“[The parents] immigrated from other countries, so they can see these talents again. I think it just brings all of us together as a community,” Cai said.
Photo courtesy of APAC.
