Lamps, check. Coniferous trees, not check.

Students at Columbia University represent the diversity of the nation and the world, bringing to campus traditions and customs from their own backgrounds. Bwog sent Daily Editors Alex Tang and Angelica Lagasca to review Lunar Gala: Harmony 2017, Columbia’s biggest celebration for the Lunar New Year. The gala featured musical and dance performances by Columbia student groups, as well as a fashion show finale.

The Lunar New Year stands as one of the world’s most celebrated holidays. While individual customs differ between countries and families, celebrants always begin the new year with friends and family, live entertainment, and lots of food. Columbia University, well-represented by a population of students of East Asian descent, rang in the New Year with the annual Lunar Gala, hosted by the Chinese Students Club.

Stepping into Roone Arledge Auditorium, one familiar with Lunar New Year customs was immediately reminded of China’s very own CCTV New Year’s Gala. CCTV New Year’s Gala, or chunwan, is an annual broadcast of musical performances, dances, and skits, broadcast on live television for over 700 million viewers (definitely beating out the Superbowl). Columbia’s very own Lunar Gala boasted live student performances, take-home goodies (Lunar Gala shotglasses), and a Chinese food buffet. All proceeds from ticket sales went to Heart to Heart Community Care, a non-profit organization providing services to migrant workers in China.

This year, the hosts of Lunar Gala: Harmony 2017 emphasized the value of preserving harmony throughout political turmoil and recent events on campus. The MCs, Simon Ma and Sarah Lu, expressed hope in the power of music, dance, and fashion in bridging differences and uniting the humanity within all of us. Indeed, the performances through the night represented a diversity of artistic modes and styles that would have appealed to any viewer.

Some of the performances were more soulful in nature. Columbia Nonsequiter, a campus a capella group, delivered sultry renditions of Kimbra’s “Good Intent” and Alicia Key’s “Fallin.” Throughout the songs, the singers began quietly, before crescendoing into a powerful finales replete with feet-stomping and strong, belting background voices. CU Harmony presented a hauntingly beautiful duet between a piano and an erhu, an ancient Chinese stringed instrument. The gentle coolness of the piano provided a delicate balance to the warmer tones of the erhu, resulting in an interesting combination of both eastern and western musical instruments. CU Popsicles covered pop songs on the piano and several stringed instruments, resulting in a more mellow experience of radio’s top-50 hits.

The gala also featured several solo performers, who shared several well-known melodies through their own individual artistic styles. We enjoyed guitarist Alek Anichowski’s especially expressive vocal range in his smooth renditions of Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down” and Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” Guitarist Nick Greene treated the audience to the more obscure, yet equally beautiful “She Dreams In Blue” by Josh Woodward, as well as Bright Eye’s “First Day Of My Life.” Elena Su covered a Chinese pop ballad on the piano, performing the only Chinese-language song of the night.

The other performances were more upbeat and movement-oriented. CU Taiko performed on taiko, Japanese percussion instruments, striking the drums and chanting throughout. The audience could feel the powerful, synchronized beats and chants resonate through the entire hall. Lacking melody, taiko achieved beauty through rhythm and strength. CU Gen and Raw Elementz presented well-choreographed hip-hop dances to complement the more melodic performances of the classical instruments. Columbia Wushu provided a thrilling physical experience in the Gala, as they slashed and kicked across the stage.

Perhaps the highlight of the night was the fashion show, presenting pieces by student designers from FIT, Parsons, and Columbia. The show was divided into four themes; in each, the models moved differently, typically centered around a figure of power or a confrontation.

The first theme, Mayhem, designed by T:Crystal:W, Viva Aviva, Rebekah Haip, and Subin Hahn began with several models in heavy, robe-like grey clothing surrounding one in brilliant blue — situated to form one half of a V. Other models in brightly colored, floral-inspired clothing walked out to juxtapose against the original, dystopian-era models. The audience was especially impressed by the dichotomy between industry and nature, grey and color, machine and flora.

metallic mask from Potentiality & Unity

The second theme, Potentiality & Unity, constructed by designers Mr. Larkin and The Tailory, with accessories by Laura Balcazar, Maggie Anderson, Jacqueline Mix, and Laura Dabalsa, featured a futuristic style. A model with a sharp, metallic mask edged in fluorescent orange rose up among a crowd of other models, all of whom lay prone on the stage. This theme drew heavily from longer body-length cloaks, combining elements from the more formal trenchcoat and the scientific lab-coat. The theme ended with a burst of light, as each of the models revealed themselves to be wearing luminescent blue/white tubing, which outshone the metallic, earthy cloaks they were wearing.

blue/white/pink dress from Sudden Reverie

In their theme, Sudden Reverie, Subin Hahn, Carleen, Thomas Chu, and Alice Yim, proceeded with designs that were more organic, fluid, and natural than the first two. These designs heavily featured black, white, and grey hues, with a flash of color in the magnificent centerpiece dress, a formal, prom-like dress of gorgeous blue, white, and pink hues. Perhaps our favorite outfit of the night was this blue/white/pink dress (see image).

The final theme, Quintessence, by YAKA New York, Minan Wong, and Heewon Yun seemed to draw inspiration from traditional Eastern Asian fashion, featuring black, white, and red hues amidst a swirl of red ribbons. A Bwogger described this theme as “windy,” and perhaps the most evanescent of all four themes.

Lunar Gala: Harmony 2017 presented Columbia University’s artistic talent in all its diversity. Bwog highly enjoyed the 3-hour performance, and will definitely be returning to review the gala next year, for the Year of the Dog.