In September 2024, I had no idea what to expect when I walked into the cafeteria for my first Lunar Productions club meeting. I was immediately entranced by every aspect of the club, from the colorful patterns on the large lion costumes to the synchronization of dancers learning new steps to a K-pop song. In the weeks leading up to November 2024, I got a taste of the hard work Lunar members put into their performances. I learned complicated dance moves for Homecoming, Bronx Science’s annual event where alumni and current students alike gather to socialize. There are usually performances given by groups such as the Choreo club, Cheer squad, gymnastics team, and finally, the Lunar Productions club. As I moved with the rest of the club in the gym, listening to the students cheering from the bleachers, I knew I had found the club where I belonged.
Throughout my ten months in Lunar during the 2024-2025 academic year, I’ve realized that this club is not simply a performance-based club that meets every Wednesday—it’s a safe space where one can learn about East Asian cultures, explore new hobbies, and spend time with friends.
“Lunar is a fundamental part of my identity here at Bronx Science, and honestly, I can’t imagine what it would be like if I didn’t join during my ninth-grade year,” said Vienna Chen ‘26, the vice president of Lunar for the 2024-2025 school year. “The experiences and memories I have in Lunar are priceless!”
The time and effort each Lunar member puts into their practice is phenomenal. The five main performance groups of the Lunar Productions Club– Lion Dance, Singing, Traditional Dance, Modern Dance, and Chinese Yo-yo– are what make the shows so special.
Lion Dance
The lion dance is a traditional Chinese performance in which dancers mimic a lion’s movements while wearing an elaborate lion costume. Dancers usually perform this dance during celebrations such as weddings and festivals, especially during the Lunar New Year, to bring good luck, drive away evil spirits, and celebrate cultural heritage. The dance is accompanied by loud drums, cymbals, and gongs, creating a lively and festive atmosphere. At Bronx Science, the lion dance is the terrific opening act for the annual showcase.
At the beginning of each practice, the lion dance members trek from the cafeteria to the auditorium and back to collect their equipment: a large black drum laced with red fabric and two larger-than-life lion costumes designed with an assortment of patterns, textures, and colors. After getting set up, they use every minute of practice to coordinate the mechanics of the costumes to the thundering beat of the drum, giving the students around them a feel for traditional East Asian celebrations during rehearsal. When the clock strikes 4:45, the members repeat their trek to the auditorium and back, wrapping up the hard work put into practice time.
At the showcase, dancers imitate the adorable moves an anthropomorphic lion would make, captivating the audience. The textured layers of the costumes sway back and forth as the dancers move to the rhythm of the drum. No other act can make the opening performance as unique as lion-dancing can.
Singing
Music is a staple part of all cultures that brings families and friends together at celebrations, performances, and gatherings. Singing is one of the foundations of bringing out powerful emotions and messages in music that cannot be expressed by simply saying them. These values are especially true for the singing branch in Lunar.
But for the singers, Lunar is about more than just performing memorized lyrics and tunes in front of an audience. For them, Lunar is an outlet to express their creativity while invoking a sense of powerful emotions and connections with themselves as well.
“The best part definitely has to be the creative freedom I get when choosing what I want to sing,” Chen explained, when asked about her experience in the singing branch. “I really like the fact that I can sing in Japanese since it’s not often that I get the opportunity to.”
“Lunar has made me much more confident in my singing and comfortable with performing on stage in front of a live audience,” Luna Shao ’27 said. “Most importantly, Lunar has made me further immerse myself in my culture and embrace my heritage. I feel more connected with my roots more than ever and a stronger sense of identity.”
Rehearsals for singers in the Lunar showcase consist of meticulous planning, memorizing lyrics, assigning parts, and hitting the right notes. The costumes are chosen to represent the themes expressed in the melodies. For instance, Shao and her singing partner Xinyi Zhao ’27 sang ‘Divorce in Ghana’ by Malaysian singers Firdhaus and Dior. The song is about a married couple opening up to each other before they split. By contrasting black and white outfits with their backs turned to each other for most of their performance, Shao and Zhao emphasize the feelings of regret and melancholy that are frequently associated with the end of a marriage.
Overall, the singing branch in Lunar is a perfect mixture of invoking powerful emotions within themselves and the audience, while providing us with a taste of East Asian culture.
Traditional Dance
East Asian traditional dance represents diverse practices rooted in countries like China, Japan, and Korea. These dances often involve fluid movements, elaborate costumes, and music to convey stories, rituals, or social values. From delicate paper fans to costumes of black, red, and white, the members of traditional dance in the Lunar Productions Club, represent just that in the art of performing. Practices for traditional dance at Lunar consist of numerous individuals working together to form a graceful, elegant dance that seems to flow naturally among the members.
“We all just assign roles and keep practicing our parts, both together and separately,” Isabella Qu ’27 explained when asked about the preparation put into the annual showcase. “It’s kind of stressful but also fun.”
While all the branches of Lunar teach everyone important aspects of East Asian culture, traditional dance gives us a glimpse into what entertainment was like throughout East Asian history. These are the roots of East Asian culture and the basis of what the Lunar club truly stands for. For the members of traditional dance, preparing for the annual showcase is a great way to spend time with companions while bringing ancient history to life.
“One thing I absolutely love about being in the traditional branch of Lunar is how everyone gets a similar amount of time in the center with their abilities considered as well,” Qu mentioned. “Moreover, people in traditional dance are really understanding and we all get along really well.”
Modern Dance
Modern dancing blends sharp, synchronized movements with expressive choreography, often set to upbeat, high-energy music. In Lunar, K-pop dancing is a great way to promote modern dancing while keeping the theme of East Asian origins. Originating in South Korea, K-pop dance has become a global phenomenon, known for its precision and visual appeal. It combines elements of hip-hop, jazz, and contemporary dance, making it both dynamic and engaging to watch.
The modern dance branch at Lunar comprises around half of the performances of the annual showcase. The dancers use their practice time wisely and work tirelessly to ensure that their moves are synchronized and energized enough for the crowd. As modern dance groups are among the most popular branches of Lunar, there is a check-in process to ensure the members are putting in the necessary effort to make their performance a roaring success.
“For the Modern branch, there are two check-ups to see how each group is doing,” Alice Chan ’27 mentions. “At the beginning of the entire process, we learn the first half of the song to show to the Lunar board. Then comes the second check, where we finish the whole song. So the preparation does require many practices outside of club time so that we can ensure we are satisfied with our performance.”
The dancers’ hard work pays off at the annual showcase, where each group performs with confidence and vibrant energy. As they deliver every step with precision and power, the audience responds with loud cheers and enthusiastic support. Each group finishes with all members bowing to the audience, thanking them for their immense support. That single moment makes all the dedication and determination worth it.
“Finally getting to the point where you can all feel proud about your performance is truly exhilarating, and I don’t think any project at school could ever compare to it, especially when you are onstage with them,” says Sarina Ngan ’27, the Co-secretary of Lunar for the 2024-2025 school year. “The adrenaline onstage makes every bit of practice worth it, and the minutes fly by like seconds. You grow to be so proud of yourself and everyone you perform with!”
Chinese Yo-yo
The Chinese yo-yo, also known as a diabolo, dates back over a millennium to the Tang and Song dynasties, where it was used as both a toy and performance instrument. It evolved significantly during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with more elaborate tricks and designs, including hollow wooden yo-yos that produced whistling sounds when rolled against the thick string of yarn. In the 20th century, it became a staple of Chinese acrobatics and gained global popularity through international circus acts and modern juggling communities.
The Chinese yo-yo is a very difficult skill to hone when it comes to performing. It’s a very unique practice in the performance world, especially in the United States. However, in Bronx Science, the Chinese Yo-Yo is instantly recognized by many whenever the beloved toy shows up. Lunar has played a significant part in shedding light on this spectacular talent.
The Chinese yo-yo performance at the annual Lunar showcase consists of intense cooperation among the members. Many of their tricks consist of tossing their yo-yos into the air and catching them using only their strings. Their ability to flawlessly catch these yoyos without missing stuns the crowd, as doing so requires extreme precision and teamwork among the members. Mastering the skills needed to perform Chinese Yoyo is extremely valuable when embracing aspects of East Asian culture and performing, which is what Lunar is all about.
Embracing New Cultures
From learning new skills to finding connections with East Asian heritage, the Lunar Productions club leaves significant impacts on many Bronx Science students, the members, and the audience alike.
“I am ever so proud to call myself a part of a club that holds such talented and incredible people,” Ngan shares when reflecting on her time at Lunar. “The friends I’ve made in the club are not just ‘Lunar friends,’ but true friends that I will always break into a smile at the sight of.”
“Lunar is a fundamental part of my identity here at Bronx Science, and honestly, I can’t imagine what it would be like if I didn’t join during my ninth-grade year,” said Vienna Chen ‘26, the vice president of Lunar for the 2024-2025 school year. “The experiences and memories I have in Lunar are priceless!”