As I approached the historic Loeb Drama Center on the evening of April 19, filled with anticipation for the opening performance of Eastbound, I was met by a bustling queue of friends, family members, and dedicated fans, all eagerly awaiting the spectacle about to unfold. Eastbound is the annual spring performance and celebration of Asian culture presented by Harvard’s Asian American Dance Troupe (AADT). Eastbound is always remarkable, showcasing the diversity and vibrancy within the Asian dance community and its presence at Harvard.
This spring, the 30th installment of Eastbound boasted a dynamic community of over 300 dancers and an entirely sold-out opening night. Waiting to take my seat, I watched as students ready with flowers and cameras fostered one of the most exhilarating atmospheres I’ve encountered at a Harvard-affiliated show.
A critical component of the AADT community is their commitment to the involvement of students from a variety of cultural and dance backgrounds. As explained on their website, AADT pride themselves on their non-audition, “all are welcome” policy, featuring dancers for their passion and eagerness to share their unique cultural experiences with a larger stage. Their mission explains, “We hope to encourage interaction and collaboration with other dance groups on campus and make AADT a reflection of Harvard’s diverse and creative environment.” AADT embodies a sincere and enduring commitment to spreading awareness of Asian-American culture on campus and a lasting dedication to fostering inclusivity and understanding within the broader community.
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As the curtain lifted and the first act of Eastbound began, audience members sat posed at the edges of their seats, absorbing the energy imminent from the stage and keen to be swept away by the magic of the performance. “Flagship,” Eastbound’s opening number, began the show with a mesmerizing fusion of ethereal beauty and raw power. Dancers, draped in elegant, flowing gowns, glided gracefully across the stage, their dresses undulating like waves, synchronized with the rippling melody in the background. “Flagship” not only captured the essence of the dancers’ collective grace and fluidity but also offered forth a captivating interplay of stillness and motion, evoking imagery of water flowing and crashing across the stage.
After “Flagship” concluded and the crowd’s fervent roars dissipated, AADT captains Anthony Lee ’24 and Si Chiang Wu ’24 took the stage to address the audience and the troupe alike, reminiscing about their early shows in Lowell Lecture Hall and speaking to the growth of the AADT community since their early days. I would be remiss not to mention that the captains’ introductions of the AADT board members were extremely touching. Highlighting each and every person on board, from the treasurer to the technical chairs, the captains mentioned their co-board members with a level of sincerity and respect that exemplified a level of commitment and friendship within the group that I felt during the entire performance.
The next performance “HIVE,” was an upbeat, hip-hop dance featuring an array of performers in yellow and black streetwear. The performance was angular and jazzy, featuring sharp, coordinated movements and fierce facial expressions while set against a dark, dynamic backdrop.
The next dance, “Immortal Magpie Bridge,” was both delicate and precise. Dancers wearing long pastel dresses adopted swift movements as they bounded across the stage, once again juxtaposing the strength and power of the dancers with a soft gracefulness. Repeatedly dropping and picking up a cloth, the dancers crafted a narrative on grief and the subjective experience of loss in life. This metaphorical undertone to their third dance serves as an attestation to AADT’s commitment to storytelling and cultural memory, using contrast in movement and lighting to further the emotional weight of their performances.
One of my favorite acts from the entire performance was “Hôn Sen Việt” (Lotus Soul), a captivating traditional Vietnamese fan dance. “Lotus Soul” began with an upbeat K-pop soundtrack characterized by catchy melodies and dynamic beats. The music pulsed with energy, seamlessly blending elements of pop and electronic music with the dancers’ striking coordination and setting a vibrant tone for a seemingly traditional piece. Dancers playfully made heart shapes with their hands in a lively, modernized transition that brought an incredibly fun and carefree energy to the auditorium. As the dance progressed, the stage became bathed in hues of red, intensifying the dramatic entrance of the fans being used and the intricacy of the dancer’s coordination.
“Chosen Family” was also of particular note in the context of the larger Eastbound performance. A tribute to the dancers’ time at AADT, the dance celebrated the robust community at AADT, celebrating queerness and cross-dressing through the performances’ costumery and choreography. The sonic composition of the performance was also not to be forgotten, and the piece’s transitions from subtle melodies to vibrant, crashing beats were seamless—a decision that mirrored the strength of the relationships that comprise our “chosen families.” As the music swelled, so did the emotional intensity of the dance, culminating in a powerful expression of solidarity and acceptance.
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Sabiha Amin ’27 joined AADT during her first semester at Harvard. For Amin, the organization was her first exposure to the dance world. When asked about her experience specifically connecting with dance through AADT, on the grounds of community and her instruction, she explained, “I definitely improved so much. [AADT] makes you a lot more confident in your body and [with] the people around you, and it’s just a really wholesome and energizing space that helps you relax from everything that’s going on here.” Amin characterized AADT as not merely a space for rigorous training and carefully coordinated practices, but also a respite from the outside world.
Amin described AADT’s flexible structure that allows students to be involved to a variety of degrees. AADT’s competitive team “AADT Beyond,” performs at and outside of Harvard, offering a larger time commitment for those interested. There are also a variety of other lower-commitment branches that offer students outlets for a myriad of traditional and contemporary forms of dance. Amin continues saying that AADT is “truly one of the best communities on campus” and that the group’s organizational precocity is one of the group’s greatest merits.
Amin continued, saying “They’re incredibly organized with how they go about the event, go about rehearsal, go about practices, go about ensuring people actually pull up to practices,” a component of AADT’s leadership that Amin views as fundamental to fostering community engagement in an environment where students are constantly asked to prioritize different academic and extracurricular priorities. For Amin, this structured approach not only enhances participation but also cultivates an environment where students feel supported in balancing their diverse academic and extracurricular commitments.
Laurinne Eugenio ’26 shared the same glowing reviews as Amin, stating “This was my first time dancing with AADT, and it was incredibly fulfilling.” Eugenio explains, “I was part of Serena and Carol’s dance, which featured a Tagalog song. It felt amazing to be in a dance that represented and showcased my Filipino identity and heritage.” Highlighting the spirit of representation and inclusivity that defines AADT, Eugenio poignantly illustrated that the magic within an organization like AADT is sharing a part of yourself with others through an outlet that is both creative and fundamentally communal, while simultaneously offering forth a diverse set of perspectives to a larger audience.
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Stepping out of Loeb and into the night, the experience of Eastbound seemed to follow me as I walked: an evening of fun, beauty, raw talent, and incredibly creative choreography. Through their performances, AADT not only celebrates the skill and cultural diversity of its members, but reminds us of the beauty found in sharing our stories, traditions, and identities with one another. AADT exemplifies dedication, careful planning, and a space where self-expression is not only desired, but cherished.
Clara Corcoran ’25 (claracorcoran@college.havrard.edu ) writes Arts for the Independent.