AADT’s ‘Eastbound’ 2025 Celebrates Inclusivity and Bonding Through Asian American Dance

The Harvard Asian American Dance Troupe (AADT) has been a vibrant center for diverse expressions of AAPI heritage on Harvard’s campus for the last two decades. AADT is composed of people of many different backgrounds and talents who come together to feature a variety of Asian dance, ranging from historical and traditional routines to contemporary.

AADT welcomes everyone. One doesn’t have to have experience in dance to join AADT, as older members of the group take on positions to teach others and choreograph routines.

“It costs nothing, really, two hours of your week and you don’t need private dance experience, and you don’t need to be anything. It is Asian American dance, but you don't need to be Asian American. It’s like an opening where literally anyone can do it,” said Chris S. Li ’26, AADT’s treasurer.

The troupe’s spring showcase “Eastbound” took place on April 25 and 26 at the Loeb Drama Center. Aaron J. Arlanza ’26 and Yafan Wang ’26 served as co-directors, both performing in and organizing events.

“I remember three years ago I went to the Visitas table. At the time, I knew I wanted to do dance in college, and I just wasn’t sure what that outlet was for that. I also knew I wanted to be part of more affinity spaces in college as well, and AADT was the perfect combination of that,” Arlanza said.

This semester’s performance featured multiple dance routines. Audience members clapped and cheered on their friends at the beginning of each number. Each routine was energetic and beautiful, ranging in clothes, styles, and sounds, offering their own unique flair. The final performance in the program was performed by BEYOND, the one group in AADT for which participants have to audition. They practice hip hop and open style dance, focusing on helping its members reach their full artistic potential.

“It’s so important for me to not only be part of uplifting the arts and the dance community here at Harvard, but also to present Asian culture in all forms and all ways possible. I also know that for us, AADT is not only a dance troupe, but it’s also a place where people can find community and for people to really learn to love dancing. I think that’s the main point,” Arlanza said.

AADT especially fosters growth and learning through its opportunities to practice multiple styles of dance.

“I joined because of the diverse style [that AADT] offers. As you see in the show, there is traditional dance, K-Pop dance, and you can just get everything,” Wang said.

Many traditional dances focused on nature, one illustrating the movement of water and another, cherry blossoms. One of AADT’s staple performances is called “Flagship,” which focuses on traditional dance techniques and skills with cultural meaning behind them.

“[Flagship] is always first in the program. I think it’s a way to call back to Asian American heritage and celebrate huge diversity and culture. I feel like having this traditional dance first in the program is very symbolic and very significant,” Li said.

AADT creates a close-knit community in which relationships last for years, even beyond Harvard.

“It has the community elements: It has friendship, and now we have seen an increasing generation and generation passed down. Alumni come to cheer for their friends backstage. So I can see AADT to be an organization not only focused on dance, but also friendship and community,” Wang said.