Cultural Hiphop You Don’t Stop

  ANGELA LEE Members of ACA practice their hip-hop routine
for the 13th annual culture show tonight.

By Howard Ho
Daily Bruin Reporter

Chinese Americans have long been known for their martial arts,
their ethnic lion dance and their hip hop dancing. Hip hop
dancing?

That’s right, UCLA’s Association of Chinese
Americans includes hip-hop dancing in its culture night. While a
celebration of biculturality and confrontation of universal issues
are presented to appeal to everyone, specific Chinese-American
issues provide another focus for “Gateways,” the new
ACA production for its 13th Annual Culture Night in Royce Hall
tonight.

“Our club is a Chinese-American organization so our focus
is on biculturality,” said Anwer Khan, a fourth-year
political science and sociology student. “Hip-hop is one of
the modern things that’s a large part of youth culture among
Asian Americans. Hip-hop dancing is a great attraction
too.”

Shang W. Chuang, president of ACA and a fourth-year economics
student, agrees that hip-hop is an integral part of the culture
show because it is a common form of expression among many young
adults.

“Just how traditional dance is associated with Chinese
heritage and culture, we believe hip-hop dancing performed by
Chinese Americans represents Chinese-American culture,”
Chuang said.

However, there is much more to offer viewers that displays the
Chinese-American experience, including the central feature, a
play.

  ANGELA LEE Members of ACA practice their hip-hop routine
for the 13th annual culture show tonight.

The play begins in an airport, where four characters tell their
stories in flashbacks. Each deals with different issues confronting
Chinese Americans. One is a daughter who is over-protected and
valued less because she is female. One is a son who confronts his
father about glass ceilings. Another character faces his leukemia
diagnosis. Each of these stories converge at the end with the
lessons learned.

“It all stems from the quote the old man says in the
beginning, “˜Life, though it can only be understood backwards,
must be lived forwards,'” said Khan, who scripted the
play.

“But this is our chance that we get to show everybody that
our focus is Chinese-American biculturality and this is what
it’s all about. The fact that it’s ACA putting it on is
secondary to putting the issues forward,” Khan continued.

One of the more obscure issues in Chinese-American ““ and
by extension, Asian-American ““ culture, is the lack of bone
marrow donors for the treatment of leukemia. While the cancer has a
relatively low incidence among Asians, the disease remains fatal
for many because transplants must come from people of the same
ethnicity as the patient.

“You don’t hear about the incidence of leukemia and
it’s out there. After I finished writing the script, my
friend’s cousin was diagnosed with it. I was just bringing it
to light,” Khan said.

The production not only presents issues, but also presents
culture in an entertaining way. The show’s cast and crew of
120 consists of martial artists, ethnic dancers, singers and, of
course, hip-hoppers. The different acts will occur within the
context of the overall drama, which includes a choreographed fight
scene. For co-producer Michele Shen, a second-year undeclared
student, the production is more that just entertainment for the
audience.

“This is one of the major ways the members get involved in
the club, rehearsing for the show and having it culminate at the
end into a really nice production,” Shen said.

  ANGELA LEE Members of ACA practice their hip-hop routine
for the 13th annual culture show tonight.

The months of planning and rehearsals for the performance will
all be worthwhile when the performers enter the stage. Khan began
writing his script last June. Auditions were held in November, and
the cast has been preparing since then. Though not initially a
member, William Feng, a fifth-year political science student, found
the time commitment of the production a good way to deal with his
own personal issues.

“I wanted to meet new people and get my mind off
things,” said Feng. “I attended an ACA meeting and that
day happened to be the auditions. It’s a great place to meet
people and a great stress relief.”

The two-hour production strives to reach a universal audience
although its focus is on Chinese-American issues. By getting
personal, ACA hopes to bring out the human drama.

“That’s my life. I understand the characters in the
show. I think it relates to a big portion of the student body at
UCLA, just biculturality in general, because we are so
diverse,” Shen said.

CULTURE: ACA’s culture night will take
place in Royce Hall at 8 p.m. and doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets
are sold out, but additional guests will still be allowed in at the
door.