By the Unity in Diversity Officers
Unity in Diversity performed on February 14th for all of East with bold success! The crowds were cheering and waving their phone flashlights, and the performers all felt great about the big show. As Unity comes to a close, here are some final messages from the officers regarding the performance.
Pen Fang is the Unity President. They co-led the K-Pop group and the Chinese Traditional Dance, also doing a solo and duet for China. They were part of 9 acts total, including the Vietnamese Hat Dance, Indian Bollywood, South India, Singapore, and Japanese Vocaloid.
“It was truly one of the best experiences of my high school years. Everything coming together, being on that stage, being on that stage with everyone else was so amazing. Working together with people and being able to build a community and such close connections with people — I’m so grateful I got to have this experience and be such a big part of it and have it be such a big part of my experiences here.”
“It was a lot of hard work, a lot of late nights and crazy planning and scrambling at times, but I think that allowed us to bond and help each other. And everyone’s so passionate, it’s truly an honor to be able to work for a club as lovely as Unity. It’s a joke that I go a bit crazy for the club — 9 acts and all — but I truly enjoyed every moment. I got to grow artistically and as a person, and kind of figure myself out more. I’m so proud of this club and so thankful. I hope you guys enjoyed Unity, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.”
Angelina Tang is the Unity Vice President. She led the Japanese Vocaloid group and co-led Chinese Traditional Dance, in addition to taking part in two duets: Chinese C-Pop and Japanese Isshin-ryu Karate. She also danced for the Vietnamese Hat Dance, Indian Bollywood, and Korean K-Pop. “It has been such an honor to lead such an amazing performance. Everyone really gave it their all, and the shows were a hit. It was a lot of work, putting together a performance with so many people involved–it really is a process that starts at the very beginning of the school year!” From organizing Taste of East to running groups to learning dances, organizing costumes, putting together all of the lighting and sound instructions for Stage Crew, and just generally pulling together loose ends to make sure every single group was all ready for the show, Unity is quite literally a full-time commitment. “This is so much more than a club. It’s a family, a home, a safe space that has brought us together and spread so much happiness. All of the late nights and stress were definitely worth it, and I hope everybody enjoyed Unity as much as we did.”
Surya Avasarala is the Unity Secretary. He co-led the South India Kuthu dance and took part in Bollywood and K-Pop. “The best part of leading a group is seeing it coming together,” he says. “Seeing the friends around you pick up your choreography so quickly is such a rewarding feeling.”
Julia Luong is the Unity Treasurer. They co-led the Vietnamese Hat Dance and danced for Korea K-Pop, Upperclassmen Bollywood, South India, and Japanese Vocaloid. “I never imagined I’d be able to take part in something so amazing. Every single performer put in the work and effort. Without all of them, this wouldn’t be possible.” Julia has managed Unity’s funds and reimbursements, even now, after the performance. Without their efforts, the show would not be able to go on and groups would not have been able to obtain all of the gorgeous ethnic clothing and costumes they wore.
“Unity extends farther than just a show,” they comment on what the production means to them. “It’s about giving people a reason to be proud of who they are, learning something that is special to every culture represented in Unity, and working and forming incredible connections with people you would never otherwise have met. It’s a truly unique experience that I’ll never forget.”
Tanisha Chanda is the Unity Program Manager. She co-led the India Upperclassmen Bollywood group and the South Korea K-pop group. She also took part in the Vietnamese Hat dance. “As I reflect back on the six-month process of putting this show together, I can’t help but marvel at all the hard work and dedication that every participant and coordinator put in,” she says. “From learning countless routines to practicing for hours, each performer gave their all to create something beautiful.
“I’m especially proud of our officer team. From fundraising, organizing checkpoints, working through timing, sound, and lights, we truly overcame the chaos and turned it into an amazing show. I’m so proud of this show and I will forever be grateful for the community and experiences this club has given me over the years. I can’t wait to see how it evolves in the future!”
