Alfred to Asia a huge success

The International Students and Scholars Organization alongside the Confucius Institute presented Alfred to Asia or A2A, April 11 in Holmes Auditorium.

The entrance of Holmes auditorium was shrouded in red cloth, beginning the experience with an Asian tone. The event proved to be much more than dazzling lights and well choreographed performers. Decorated in traditional chinese paper cuttings and calligraphy Holmes itself was an integral component of the production. Master of ceremonies, Stephanie Choi, kicked the show off with a light-hearted introduction to the night's theme - dream.

First to perform were multiple groups of students from Naples Central School playing the guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument. Following the guzheng performances Yuhan Wang, sporting traditional Chinese dress, played impressive melodies on the Hulusi, or Chinese flute.

The instrumental performances were followed up by a Korean pop music dance, performed by men dressed in black suits and white masks featuring the choreographer of the piece Sara Park. The piece was met by rounds of applause and cheers from the audience.

Next on stage was the Chinese fan dance in which performers started off with powerful moves and ended with peaceful gestures, portraying a love story between ruthless heroes and graceful ladies.

AU Steppas were next to perform. They wowed the crowd with an impressively intricate routine. The duo of Su Lee on piano and oboist Geoffrey Cheung then took the stage to play a traditional Korean song. The Tai Chi group was next on stage and upped the tempo with a demonstration by the Tai Chi master Ng. Members from the audience were then invited to practice Tai Chi on stage with the performance group.

Following intermission, the Syracuse University Korean drum team stole the show. Next, a group of girls commanded the stage with another Korean pop dance called Gee. “I think the Gee dance is cute. It shows another side of Korean culture,” said senior Krystal Lord. Following Gee, another group of women adorned in flowing sleeves performed the water-sleeve dance emulating the movement of water.

Alfred State Japanese dance team marked the end of the evening with a thrilling display. They presented various Japanese dance styles, and the crowd instantly erupted into jubilant cheers and applause as the dance concluded. “I really liked the show; it’s really amazing to see different parts of Asian culture, from pop to fan dance. I had a great night,” said sophomore Angela Netta.

When asked if she was happy with the show, Stephanie Choi, ISSO president, said, "I am very proud to be part of this mind-blowing production. This has been a lot of work, but we have all gone through this together."

The International Students and Scholars Organization meets every Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Alumni Lounge in Powell Campus Center.