Taking a taste

Dressed in satin, a group of dancers from the Filipino Student Association elegantly swayed while balancing candles on their hands and heads while the audience cheered.\nThat was just one of the many sights at the Taste of Asia event Saturday at the IU Auditorium.\nThe auditorium was filled with laughter and applause as well as heavy aromas wafting from the entrance as crowds enjoyed the 14th annual event. \nThe show featured such acts as comedian Eliot Chang, the IU Bhangra club, a duet from the Japanese Student Association and another dance performance by the Filipino Student Association. Afterward, the audience was treated to free food from various local restaurants such as Shanti, Dragon Express and Basil Leaf. \nWith an estimated 500 people, Taste of Asia organizer sophomore Desma Jones said the show was a success despite many students’ going home for Easter. \nThe show began with Chang’s comedy. He warmed up the audience with jokes about college \nstudents and drinking, then moved on to jokes about being an Asian-American.\n“If you get to know someone, you’ll find a better reason to hate them,” he joked about racism.\nThe IU Bhangra club earned much applause with their act. Wearing brightly colored tunics embellished with sequins, the group performed to a medley of modern Indian music. The climax of the performance was when the group used cheerleading-type moves, creating a pyramid on stage that rotated. \nThe show continued with two female singers dressed in floral print kimonos. Naho Saito and Saki Handa sang the song “Hana” in Japanese.\nAnother audience favorite was the Filipino Student Association’s performance. The dancers gracefully balanced candles on their heads and held one in each hand while they elegantly swayed to the music. \n“It was a dance that (Filipino women) do to attract guys,” said senior performer Laura Kaucher. \nSophomore Melissa Decal said the group does the performance every year to show the audience “a little about Filipino culture.” \nFreshman Melissa Dittmann said she came because “who could argue with free food” and because “it’s not a bad lineup.” \nDittmann said she learned new things about Asian culture.\n“I never knew that the fortune cookie was a U.S. invention,” she said. \nAnother audience member, Daniel Orrego, said he enjoyed the Filipino student group and the comedy of Chang. \n“He’s got enough to do his own show – he’s really talented,” Orrego said. “Having venues like this does expose people, and it’s good for business.” \nDittman said she’s going to explore other opportunities on campus because of the festival.\n“I might even see if I can get involved,” she said. “It’s a good event.”