On Friday, May 9, Irvington’s Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) held the cultural event Fremont By Night, a vibrant showcase of Vietnamese culture and student talent.
Hosted by Irvington’s VSA and supported by neighboring schools in the Fremont Unified School District — such as Mission San Jose, Kennedy, and American High — the event drew inspiration from the Vietnamese show Paris By Night. “It was inspired by Paris By Night, which is a theater-style show that a lot of our parents and vendors really like,” Celine Nguyen (12) said. “We wanted to raise awareness of Vietnamese culture and show off our fan dances.”
There were many performances throughout the night, from traditional fan dances to martial arts, jeopardy, and comedic skits which enacted Vietnamese legends. In addition, the show encompassed cultures outside of just Vietnamese culture. “We also had performances from the Filipino club, martial arts demonstrations, and traditional Vietnamese skits,” Nguyen explained.
What made this year’s event even more special was its expanded reach. “We invited Evergreen Valley High School from San Jose this year,” Nguyen said. “They have a large Vietnamese population, and they came to perform both a fan dance and a more modern variation with long fans.”
The planning process was initiated months in advance, beginning at the start of the school year. Officers recounted difficulties trying to find a venue as American High School wanted to host this year, but eventually they weren’t able to. The dances were also prepared well in advance. “We started choreographing in March and practicing by April,” Nguyen noted.
For VSA, the event was more than just for entertainment value. It was to help Vietnamese-American students connect with their roots and find a common ground with their ancestors and relatives. They hope that it allowed attendees to embrace their cultures and understand their families more.
Through months of preparation, VSA was able to make Fremont by Night such an incredible show, boasting dazzling performances and helping students reconnect with their culture.
