Bryn Mawr’s Asian Student Association hosted their annual Culture Show in the Great Hall on Nov 8, inviting students and faculty from various Asian backgrounds to come together to embrace their traditions. ASA is one of the largest affinity groups on campus, and its Culture Show is one of their largest events. This year’s show theme was “Sun and Moon” representing the idea that beauty and community can be found between two opposite extremes.
Bryn Mawr President Wendy Cadge shared her thoughts prior to the start of the show, saying “I am looking forward to seeing a range of performances from different cultures.”
In the heat of the current political moment, ASA co-presidents Eliana Haah ‘26 and Glory Zhang ‘26 opened up the show by drawing attention to the recent U.S. election results: “ASA wanted to take this time to create a voice and presence for our students. Today we are going to continue that voice, no matter who’s in office.”
Photo by Bi-Co News Head Photographer Harrison West
Throughout the night, Anna Nguyen ’25 served as a Master of Ceremonies for the show, keeping audiences entertained and giggling with her charm and humor.
The show commenced with a musical number, Haru by Yolushika performed by Miao Liu ’28 on vocals, Lianna Pan ’28 on keys, and Virgil Dionn ’28 on guitar. Each of these performers and their individual talents not only complemented, but also elevated each other.
The first act was followed by Afreen, Bryn Mawr’s Bollywood fusion dance team, who danced to a mix called “Your Roman Empire Pookie pt. 2.” This performance’s energizing music and the dancers’ moves excited audience members, who clapped and cheered.
Photo by Bi-Co News Head Photographer Harrison West
The subsequent act was an East Asian dance by Tiffany Lan who danced to “Echoes of Longing.” Lan mesmerized audiences through her elegant movements and acrobatic skills.
“The dance was very inspiring and it was incredible to see such talent on display,” said Culture Show attendee Jules Chapin-Tsai ‘28. “She danced gracefully which really moved me.”
As the show progressed, Mayuri, Tri-Co’s Premiere South Asian Fusion Dance Team, also performed a dance number called “Main Character in Bollywood Romance Film.”
The performance by Mayuri was followed by a presentation by Francis Tanglao Aguas, the Associate Dean of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Anti-Racism at Drexel University, about the historical use of Filipino fashion in political rebellion. He claimed that, “Fashion is our second language.”
He further revealed how fashion was a way for him to ensure the survival of his culture. He wore clothing with Filipino designs every day. For example, he shared a shirt that was given to him by his father who was previously given to him by his father. He saw this shirt as a way for his ancestors to maintain connection with him.
Later on, Dr. Honglan Huang, a Haverford professor specializing in East Asian Puppetry and Performance, performed “Crankie”, an original shadow puppetry work. This piece involved using a panoramic art scroll accompanied with a story. This act’s eerie, yet thought provoking story-telling kept audience members on the edge of their seats with its cryptic audio recording and stunning visuals.
Photo by Bi-Co News Head Photographer Harrison West
Following this lecture, KuanKuan Hu ’25 danced to “Leisurely Joy.” This is Hu’s third year performing at the Culture Show. She ended her performance on a bittersweet note since this is her last show s a senior.
Next, ChoomBoom, the Bi-Co K-Pop dance group, performed the last dance number to “Perfect Night” by Le Sserafim that was well-coordinated and synchronized.
The final act was a fashion show where ASA members modeled clothing from a multitude of different Asian cultures. This runway gave the Bryn Mawr community the opportunity to see the beauty and brilliance of Asian wardrobes.
“It was nerve wracking, but it was a very rewarding experience,” said participant Chloe Sun ‘28. “I never regretted it. I felt reconnected to my culture.”
Photo by Bi-Co News Head Photographer Harrison West
The ASA E-Board closed the show by holding a raffle. Culture Show attendees had a chance to win either a packet of Indomie ramen, a matcha set, or a Moo Deng shirt.
After the show ended, ASA held a Diya lighting outside of Old Library in celebration of Diwali, the Hindu holiday signifying the festival of lights.
