Superstitious?
If so, then you should know that not going to the Connecticut College Asian and Asian American Student Association (CCASA) production, “Fusion: The Pan-Asian Experience” might elicit bad luck.
Tickets are selling fast for this yearly event (formally known as Diwali and IntoxicASIAN), and Friday the 13th’s program is certainly something members of the Connecticut College community should not miss.
CCASA is one of the most active clubs on campus whose mission is to “provide a supportive environment for Asians and Asian Americans.” CCASA achieves this through all-campus programming such as movie nights, performances and lectures that “raise awareness of cultural, political, social and academic issues that concern Asians and Asian Americans.”
As can be determined by the cultural and ethnic differences among the 300 to 350 students who come to CCASA’s fall entertainment production each year, CCASA is certainly not a group on campus that attracts only those students who identify as Asian.
The producers of the show, seniors Justin O’Shea and Khanh Pham, the Artistic Director, junior Wayne Ong, and CCASA’S executive board certainly have furthered this message through greater variety and number of acts that one can look forward to seeing in Fusion this year.
“We are really working hard to make sure our programming is truly pan-Asian,” O’Shea said. “CCASA hopes, especially with Fusion, that we draw from Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures, in addition to Indian and South East Asian.”
Before this move to create a more pan-Asian event, CCASA’s fall production was called Diwali and exclusively featured Bollywood acts and South-Asian music.
This year, attendees can look forward to an authentic Chinese Lion from Singapore, amazing, student-choreographed and performed dancing that highlights traditions from all over Asia, and the traditional “Bhangra,” or Punjabi modern hip-hop.
If the exotic dancing, music and costumes are not enough to attract you to Fusion on Friday, a catered meal from New London’s own Jasmine Thai restaurant and giving to a worthwhile charity might.
All proceeds from Fusion are going toward a special project of Conn student, Chi Ninh ‘12, who is working to build a classroom in a remote area of Vietnam during winter break.
Fusion is a program on Conn’s event calendar that deserves to be well attended. And, although O’Shea expressed that he, “[didn’t] want to spoil it too much,” it is clear that this year’s production is going to be one to remember.
Be sure to buy your ticket from CCASA members seated at the entrance to Harris or at the Info Desk in Cro before the show on Friday, which promises to “wow” all in attendance.
