Southeast Asian music filled the Douglas C/D cafeteria Monday night as about 80 students filed in to watch various songs, dances and presentations.

The Residence Hall Association and International Hall sponsored the event as part of Asian American Heritage Month. It also featured a Southeast Asian mini-museum, posters providing information about the various countries of Southeast Asia as well as assorted Thai, Indonesian and Indian dishes.

“I came out because my roommate is dancing in the Vietnamese dance,” said Asha Kansal, a freshman political science major. “I’ve never seen one before. Plus, I’m Asian, too. I’ve got to show my cultural support.”

The night kicked off with a Thai dance symbolizing love. Cindy Ourawattanaphan, a senior accountancy major, performed the dance barefoot, in traditional Thai clothing. The dance included a series of graceful hand movements and small footsteps.

Following the Thai performance was a presentation by Manuel Acance, a junior biology major, of a Philippine song, titled ‘Harana,’ that translates to ‘Serenade.’ It is a song men would use during courtship, serenading their desired woman from outside her bedroom window.

“This song shows that old traditions are still alive today in the Philippines,” Acance said.

Also performed was a Vietnamese dance, called “For the Love of Spring,” which incorporated elaborate waving of red ribbons, fan waving and snapping, as well as an Indonesian dance about princesses who dance during their spare time. The dancers wore their hair in buns with a tube with pearls attached going through the middle, appearing similar to a small headdress.

The event closed with a presentation by Nagasura Madale, from Capitol University in the Philippines, demonstrating how to wear a malong, similar to a sarong, as well as playing the Kubing harp, which is an instrument played with the mouth.

The crowd laughed through his presentation as he demonstrated how to put the sarong on.

“You start with the right [foot] so you don’t go wrong,” Madale said.

He then demonstrated the various ways the sarong can be worn from using it as a sling to carry an infant or wearing it to keep your face hidden.

“I think the event turned out awesome,” said Ashley Beringer, a junior elementary education major and International Hall CA who helped organize the event. “The performers were amazing and the turnout was great. It seemed like everyone enjoyed it.”