The Chin club will be hosting its 14th annual cultural celebration in the Stuver Auditorium on Feb. 20, beginning at 6 p.m. There is no charge for admission, and everyone is welcome to attend.
“If people are unfamiliar with the Chin culture, they will see children singing in their home language, traditional dances and honoring seniors who are about to graduate,” Chin club sponsor Rita Lasuzzo said. “Their dances tell a story. One is called the ‘Tiger Dance,’ which reenacts how tigers would come into their villages and hurt people. The bamboo dance reenacts how they harvest food as a group.”
The Chin club performers have something new up their sleeve this year. They will introduce two new dances: the “Cakei Lam” (Tiger dance) and “Lamlian Lehlam.”
“It is a difficult and rigorous dance to learn,” senior Chin club historian Esther Hnemcer said. “But by the grace of God, we had an amazing teacher to guide us through these three months of practice.”
The festival means a lot to the Chin community members because it’s a way to represent their heritage and enlighten those who aren’t familiar with their traditions – through oral stories, festivals, songs and dances. Elders teach customs to younger generations, while art and traditional clothing help convey their cultural identity.
“What I like about the Chin festival/club is it brings everyone together and creates a strong sense of community,” senior Chin club president Par said. “I’ve been involved since I was little, so it’s like a big family to me. Plus, we always get to learn new things and showcase our Chin traditional clothing made from scratch. It really reminds me not to forget where I come from, which is super important.”
Culture shapes identity, connects people, influences communication, and preserves traditions. It also promotes understanding and enriches societies.
“Working with and supervising Chin club is a blessing,” Lasuzzo said. “I have never worked with a group that is so community-minded and humble. Their work ethic cannot be surpassed.”
Members and officers have put in the work for the preparation of this festival and hope they are able to share their culture with others; with hope to tell the tale of those before them.
“The festival means a lot to me because of how far our Chin youth has come,” Hnemcer said. “I’m extremely proud of those who share and express our culture as it is something that isn’t recognized as much. I thank our youth for the hard work and resilience they have put in for this show.”
