Members of the Ohio State Vietnamese Student Association rehearse a fan dance for the student organization’s cultural show on Saturday.Credit: Roselle BertlantinReporter
Audiences can experience a night of student-led Vietnamese dance, songs, games, and more at the Vietnam Student Association’s 25th Annual Cultural Show.
The Vietnam Student Association, also known as VSA, will hold this year’s show at the Fawcett Event Center on Saturday at 6 p.m. His VSA member, Alex Chiu, a fourth-year chemical engineering major, said the annual event features Vietnamese-inspired music and dance performances. Overall, the exhibition aims to share Vietnamese art forms in a fun way and foster cultural exchange within the Ohio State community, said Mae Kearns, second-year international studies student and VSA member. Told.
“This is a cultural experience because many of the dances are rooted in honoring the Vietnamese people and their history,” Kearns said.
Chiu said the show doubles as a fundraising event, as money and awareness alike are raised through audience ticket sales. Each year, he said, all proceeds are donated to different organizations that align with the association’s philanthropic objectives.
“This year it’s the Rock, Paper, Scissors Foundation,” Chiu said. “They use the money to provide books and school supplies to children in need in Vietnam.”
As of this article’s publication, VSA hopes to raise at least $2,000 in donations. Still, if there is a sold-out crowd, that amount could approach $5,000, Chiu said.
Kearns said club members’ dance performances range in style from traditional fan dances to lotus dances, hat dances and even contemporary dances. There will also be a fashion show highlighting Vietnam’s traditional folk costume called “Ao Dai.”
Members of the Ohio State Vietnamese Student Association rehearse their hat dance in preparation for the student organization’s cultural show on Saturday.Credit: Roselle BertlantinReporter
Kearns, who will be leading this year’s Hat Dance performance, said her responsibilities include selecting the songs, choreographing the dances and instructing the dancers. She said the Vietnamese hat dance pays homage to the hats historically worn by farmers to protect themselves from the hot sun.
“Obviously, the sun is shining all the time, so a hat protects you from the sun,” Kearns says. “It’s a tribute to them in that way that they grow most of the crops so that everyone can support themselves. It’s a beautiful tribute to working hard and providing for their families.”
Chiu, who co-leads the boys’ fan dance, said the song incorporates colored fans into the choreography to match the rhythm of the music. The focus is on crisp, synchronized movements between dancers and fans, he said.
“Whether it’s girl fans or boy fans, I’m looking forward to seeing the fan dance in general, because it’s something you don’t see in Western culture,” Chiu said. . “In Eastern culture, there are traditional Chinese fan dances and Korean fan dances, but our method has a modern interpretation that you would not expect from a fan dance. I think it’s the most exciting part.” “
Kearns and Chiu are dance leaders for the first time this year, but both will participate in the 2023 Cultural Show as regular dancers. Kearns said leaders have been working on conceptualizing and creating the dance since the summer, but formal group rehearsals began in November 2023.
“This year, because of the different role I have, my priorities have shifted to really hoping that the dancers I have been teaching will take away a lot from this experience. At the same time, it’s just about enjoying the fact that they get to perform at every show, and their friends and family will be proud of the dance they’re able to perform,” Kearns said.
Kearns and Chiu agree that after months of hard work dancing, the best part is having fun with other club members.
“The only thing that really excites me about the show is seeing the performers enjoying the show,” Chiu said. “I think that’s a really big aspect, it’s just being able to feel like all the hard work has paid off and having fun on stage.”
Kearns said the show will involve viewers through games led by the host. She said her ultimate goal is to strengthen the sense of community among performers and participants, whether they are Vietnamese or not.
“I hope everyone can feel how much work went into this piece and appreciate all the art we’ve created,” Kearns said.
Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased through VSA’s Eventbrite. page. More information about the show and other dance leaders can be found on her Instagram at VSA. page.