ESEA Cha-Cha: Chinatown Cha- Cha《女人世界》(2024), Dance Workshop & Community Dance Floor

On Sunday 27th September, the art of dance performance will weave the stories of two Chinese communities - from West Coast America to East London, UK - for a special one-off event. Join us at the East and Southeast Asian Community Centre for a screening of Chinatown Cha-Cha (2024), directed by Luka Yuanyuan Yang, a heartwarming and moving documentary film about the last surviving Chinatown burlesque dancer of the 20th century, Coby Yee. After the screening, there will be a short discussion with the director herself, as well as a performance by the ‘dancing aunties’ of ESEACC. The afternoon will open up into an intergenerational community dancefloor, with DJ Ben Lee AKA Congee Sounds spinning East Asian classics and nostalgic hits.

• Snacks and drinks will be available to buy from Leo’s Bun and ESEACC Luncheon Club. 

• Attendees are invited to dress up in their ‘Sunday Chinatown best’ - whether that be inspired by the handsewn costumes of Coby Yee, or clothes that convey cultural pride.

The event is co-hosted by ESEA Film Night, Congee Sounds and Celestial Peach. All ticket proceeds and donations go back to ESEACC.

‘A meditation on arts as memory’ 

— Asian American Arts Alliance

Chinatown Cha-Cha《女人世界》(2024) 85mins

The 92-year-old previous nightclub dancer Coby Yee decides to get back on stage again after joining the senior dance troupe Grant Avenue Follies. Together they go on a tour for the last time, bridging once isolated Chinese communities in the US, Cuba and China.

Event details

2:00pm: doors

2:30 - 4:00pm: film screening

4:00 - 4:15pm: Q&A with Luka Yang book signing 

4:15 - 4:45 pm: performance by the dancing aunties of ESEACC

4:45 - 5:30 pm: dance workshop

5:30 - 6: 30 pm: community dancefloor

About event partners:

Luka Yuanyuan Yang (b. 1989, Beijing) is a visual artist and filmmaker based in Beijing and London, working across documentary film, video art, photography and performance. Through weaving documentary and archival materials, she explores themes of identity, migration, and memory, challenging conventional historical narratives and amplifying overlooked voices. Yang is a recipient of the BAZAAR Art Awards – Cross-Cultural Creator of the Year (2024) and the BVLGARI Avrora Award (2023). Her works are in the collections of Power Station of Art, Kadist Art Foundation, and FENIX Museum of Migration.

Benjamin Lee / Congee Sounds is a show producer and congee chef based in East London. He is also a community organiser focusing on bringing ESEA diasporic music and food to other communities in UK and Europe. 

Noel Zhang is a founder of ESEA Film Night: a volunteer-led community cinema founded in 2020 partnered with ESEACC. Since its inception, it has worked to provide accessible film programming spotlighting ESEA cinema, collaborating with other organisations, curators and upcoming directors from across ESEA countries and the diaspora.

Celestial Peach / Jenny Lau is a community organiser, ESEACC luncheon club chef and author of An A-Z of Chinese Food (Recipes Not Included). She is the founder of Celestial Peach, a multidisciplinary platform established in 2018 to tell and connect stories of the Chinese diaspora through food, writing and community-led work.

Leo’s Bun is a modern Hong Kong-style bakery bringing a fresh take on Hong Kong’s classic baking culture to London. Specialising in freshly baked pineapple buns, alongside speciality coffee and Hong Kong-inspired drinks and desserts, Leo’s Bun combines traditional flavours with a playful, contemporary twist.

Supported Tickets:

If you're experiencing financial hardship and even a Community Ticket isn't affordable, please email esea.offshoots@gmail.com. We have a limited number of supported tickets available and will do our best to help.