Marketing and advertising sophomore Adam Lam (left) wraps his arm around psychology senior Jen Nguyen (right) before announcing the winner of Kollaboration’s talent show on Sept. 21, 2013, at Chippewa Middle School, Okemos, Mich. Kollaboration is a community of Asian and Pacific Islander students that focuses on entertainment and performing arts. Georgina De Moya/The State News
Kollaboration welcomed MSU students and the East Lansing community to showcase the talent of local Asian Americans through dancing, singing and other various performing arts Saturday.
The event is a movement to promote the presence of Asian Americans in the entertainment and performing arts industries, local Kollaboration executive director Adam Lam said.
Lam said it aims to launch a platform where artists and performers are given the chance to pursue their dreams while redefining the image of Asian Americans in entertainment.
After going through an audition, eight local groups flaunted their talent on the auditorium stage of Chippewa Middle School, located at 4000 Okemos Road in Okemos, Mich.
Talent acts included two dance club presentations, five instrumental musical acts and a Chinese yo-yo juggling performance.
Melanie Wong, dietetics sophomore and member of MSU’s FreQuency dance club, said the group started four years ago with the goal to promote quality dancing while pushing students to open up and reveal their true creative core.
As it’s her second year performing, Wong said she was excited to dance and represent MSU.
“I love FreQuency, and I love being here with everyone,” Wong said. “We’re really like a family and we put in some long hours.”
Jeremiah Song, a hospitality business senior, attended the event and said the evening was filled with laughter, cheers and applauding favorite acts.
“I loved seeing all the students come together from different schools,” Song said. “It really just brings the community together which is the ultimate goal of Kollaboration.”
At the end of the night, the first-place award went to first time Kollaboration contester Chris Lee, a University of Michigan student.
Lee captured the judges’ vote by singing and playing the piano, a hobby Lee said he’s been doing since middle school.
Lee will have the chance to compete in Pasadena, Calf. to become the next Kollaboration Star, a chance that could allow him to bring his talent into mainstream culture.
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