Watersleeves | Vanderbilt LNYF 2020

Watersleeves is a traditional Chinese dance that originates back to the Tang Dynasty and is often performed as part of either Chinese drama or Chinese classical dance. It features the use of long sleeves as extensions of a dancer’s usual costumes. The flowy sleeves imitate the flow of water and of the clouds, and dancers are often deemed to resemble heavenly fairies. This act combines two contrasting pieces of music, aiming to show both the gracefulness and strength that sleeves can bring about. This year, the act also features a new fun section at the end that adds a contemporary touch to the dance.
Choreographed by: Lorelei Qu, Doreen Li
Performers: Abby Chung, Amy Chen, Brittany Fox, Caroline Wilkerson, Christine Zhou, Chuhan Huang, Daisy Niu, Ellin Liu, Emma Joseph, Ericka Liu, Jacqueline Oh, Lanxin Li, Maggie Qin, Viola Zhou, Xinmeng Zhang, Yueqi Li, Zirui Song
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Co-Chairs: John Lee and Skylar Long
Coordinator: Michelle Liu
Welcome to LNYF 2020: A Recipe for Success. The Lunar New Year Festival (LNYF) commemorates the eponymous holiday traditionally celebrated in many Asian cultures to bring good fortune, happiness, and health for the new year. We are immensely excited to have you join us in our celebration of the Lunar holiday with these captivating performances, impactful stories, and indispensable forms of creative expression within the Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) tradition.
Over 350 student performers, choreographers, committee members, and volunteers have dedicated their diverse talents in the last several months to produce this show. The final twenty-one acts featured tonight reflect the variety and richness of the cultures within the AAPI identity, as well as within the Vanderbilt community here on campus.
This year, the theme revolves around a central discussion on success. With its various possible interpretations and definitions, how is one’s success molded, constricted, or expanded by their surrounding cultural context? We focus on a particular aspect of immigrant milieu: transplanted culinary traditions and the small family-owned restaurants that keep them alive. Ideological differences arise when individuals consider different approaches to achieving success as they navigate an unfamiliar professional space.
We hope to engage you in a culturally immersive experience that opens up a gateway into further discussion and education on these issues pertinent to our communities.