Navigating the transition to university life is an exciting whirlwind, especially when you’re passionate about dance. For those of us at Vanderbilt, the post-Asian New Year Festival (ANYF) feeling, or “post-ANYF funk,” is a real phenomenon. It’s what happens when the high of performing in Vanderbilt’s massive annual Asian New Year Festival wears off. ANYF isn’t just any college event; it’s a vibrant explosion of culture and talent, held each year in Langford Auditorium to celebrate Chinese New Year. After the thrill of Diwali performances the previous semester, I was eager to jump back onto the Langford stage, costume ready, and ANYF arrived at the perfect moment. This year’s theme, “Avatar: The Quest for Appa,” based on the popular Nickelodeon show, generated a lot of buzz. While I wasn’t deeply familiar with the cartoon, the energy was infectious.
For ANYF, I chose to participate in Tinikling, a captivating traditional dance from the Philippines. It involves rapidly and precisely moving in and out of clashing bamboo poles that are rhythmically banged together. Sound intimidating? It definitely was at our first practice! We dedicated two hours, twice a week, learning the art of not getting our ankles pulverized by the “banging death sticks,” as we affectionately called them. Learning to navigate those bamboo poles created an unexpected sense of camaraderie. The occasional throbbing feet after practice became a badge of honor, a testament to my commitment as a Tinikling dancer.
The week of the show brought an unexpected twist: a significant ice storm in Nashville, resulting in class cancellations for two glorious days. This threw our tech and dress rehearsals into disarray. The day of the performance was a whirlwind of a three-hour dress rehearsal, and honestly, it felt like our Tinikling performance might just devolve into five minutes of chaotic stage running and yelling.
However, show day on Saturday was a resounding success. The audience turnout was fantastic, and the pre-show Chinese food dinner in the SLC was also a hit. Having close friends in the audience, cheering (and maybe playfully mocking), added to the excitement. Tinikling was part of the second act and, against all odds, went off flawlessly! As The Hustler student newspaper noted, “…and though it often seemed like someone’s foot would accidentally get smashed, the dancers all met their cues perfectly.” It was, without a doubt, our best performance.
Tinikling dancers in dynamic performance at Vanderbilt’s Asian New Year Festival.
While performing Tinikling was an incredible experience, my favorite dance to watch was Sayaw Sa Bangko. This breathtaking performance involves dancers gracefully moving on top of precariously stacked benches. Every few moments, the dancers would daringly increase the bench stack, climbing higher to execute flips and maneuvers, sometimes even blindfolded, leaving the audience utterly captivated. Even amidst other impressive performances like karate-chopping wood and energetic K-pop routines, Bangko undeniably stole the show.
Dancer University life: Kevin expertly flips April during the Sayaw Sa Bangko performance at ANYF.
Beyond mastering a traditional dance from another culture, ANYF provided something equally valuable: new friendships. As a second-semester senior, I hadn’t anticipated making many new connections, but Vanderbilt, a true dancer university environment, consistently offers unexpected and enriching experiences. The Asian New Year Festival is a testament to the vibrant student life and diverse opportunities available at universities that celebrate and foster the arts, especially dance. It’s a reminder that choosing a university isn’t just about academics; it’s about finding a community where passions, like dance, can thrive.
