Celebr(ASIAN) good times, come on!
Mike Devine
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: The Inside
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The event was "a showcase of Northeastern University's Asian American student organizations through the customs, arts, social institutions and achievements of a particular nation or people," according to organizers. The night featured an array of performing acts by Northeastern student groups like Delta Phi Omega and NU Barkada and outside acts including spoken word artist Giles Li and singer-songwriter Marié Digby.
The show kicked off with a fast-paced performance by Odaiko, a New England-based Taiko drums troupe. The 19-person ensemble included three drummers who sat cross-legged while the remaining drummers stood at much larger drums. The 10-minute performance included vocal "battle cries" between the drummers.
Li followed the opening act, cracking a joke about an automated voiceover that served as the show's announcer by calling it "one of the whitest voices" he had ever heard.
Li performed poems with subject matter including the statistics involved in US wars ("Mathematics") and a call to focus on helping people in need during this election year ("Obama Mania").
Following his set, Li served as emcee for the rest of the show, providing comedic relief between acts.
Choreography played a role in the event. Northeastern's South Asian Student Organization, called UTSAV, and Kappa Phi Lambda performed fusion dances that combined traditional and modern dance.
A few student groups performed via video, like the Asian Student Union (ASU) and the Korean American Student Association (KASA). ASU made a music video for the fictional boy band Seasoned Rice, while KASA displayed a drama that centered on nerds and popular kids switching roles, modeled after a Korean soap opera.
Delta Phi Omega integrated both video and a live performance in which they spoofed "American Idol" and the Spice Girls. The video documented the auditioning process to find the newest member of the "Spicy Girls" after member Curry quit because she wasn't spicy enough.
The act then segued into a live performance, as the girls performed their first concert in the United States set to the Spice Girls' "Spice Up Your Life" and Lil' Mama's "Shawty Get Loose."
In addition to the live performances, group members participated in three fashion shows that featured both traditional and contemporary clothing.


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Cee
posted 4/02/08 @ 1:59 PM EST
This article is a good read, HOWEVER, you did FORGET to mention some organizations that where a part of the celebrasian show. (note: there were 8 student organizations) I think its an important part of the report to accurately account for all groups apart of the show accurately as well as what the group backgrounds are. (Continued…)
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