After a celebrated theatrical run in China, visual artist and filmmaker Luka Yuanyuan Yang is set to embark on an international tour across Europe and the US, bringing her debut feature film ‘Chinatown Cha-Cha’ to new audiences to explore how migration, displacement, and cultural adaptation has shaped the Chinese diasporic experience.  

Chinatown Cha-Cha is a visually rich and deeply personal documentary that follows the remarkable journey of 92-year-old former nightclub dancer Coby Yee as she returns to the stage with San Francisco senior dance troupe, Grant Avenue Follies. Together, they embarked on a final tour, bridging generations and reconnecting Chinese diaspora communities across the world. The film is a celebration of San Francisco’s Chinatown’s golden-era performers and highlights the resilience of Chinatowns in the face of cultural erasure. It explores themes of Asian American history, aging, care, and the enduring pursuit of dreams and passion through Coby and the Follies.

As Coby Yee and Grant Avenue Follies take the stage one last time, Chinatown Cha-Cha captures a unique moment in history – one that reclaims the legacy of Chinese performers whose stories have often been overlooked. Alongside the film, Yang’s newly published book Dance in Herland published by te editions serves as an extension of this archival work. Drawing from six years of research, the book delves into the nightclub era of San Francisco’s Chinatown and the untold histories of Chinese female dancers across different historical periods.

Speaking of Chinatown Cha-Cha, Luka Yuanyuan Yang and Producer Lou Wang-Holborn said: “In a time of rising anti-Asian violence and threats to Chinatowns, the CHINATOWN CHA-CHA impact campaign ‘Generations In Step Tour’ brings generations together within the AAPI community through film, dance, and dialogue, creating meaningful discussions on identity, belonging, and activism. By spotlighting elder performers who defined Chinatown’s golden era, the campaign preserves their untold stories and inspires younger generations to honor and continue this rich legacy. Coby and the women of the Grant Avenue Follies reimagined burlesque by layering cultural pride over traditional performance, using self-designed, Asian-inspired costumes to challenge mainstream narratives. This campaign is an opportunity not only for younger Asian Americans to connect with these pioneering women, but also for these women to perform for a different kind of audience–one that is invested in their stories beyond the performance…”

Premiering at Pingyao International Film Festival and Hawaii International Film Festival in 2024 before its nationwide theatrical release in China, Chinatown Cha-Cha will now head to Europe with London as its first stop with a special performance by Grant Avenue Follies at the ESEA Spring Art Fair (April 19), followed by screenings and events at The Garden Cinema (April 23) and the London Chinese Community Center (April 23). Each event will feature a tailored program, including panel discussions, short film showcases, and Dance in Herland book signings. The film will then make its German premiere in Berlin at Babylon Theater (April 25).

To mark Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, Chinatown Cha-Cha will return to its roots with a special homecoming event in San Francisco’s Chinatown for Mother’s Day (May 11) with a screening at the historic Great Star Theater to celebrate generations of women in honour of motherhood, legacy, and the spirit of Chinatown’s pioneering performers. A book talk will follow at On Waverly moderated by Christine Ni, where Yang will discuss Dance in Herland and reflect on the intergenerational stories at the heart of the film. The San Francisco programme will also highlight the Showgirl Magic Museum founded by Cynthia Yee – a member of the Grant Avenue Follies portrayed in the film – which preserves rare archives, photographs, and costumes from Coby Yee and the nightclub era.

Later in the month, Chinatown Cha-Cha will have its New York premiere in partnership with Roxy Cinema New York and the High Line Art (May 20) to coincide with Yang’s anticipated solo exhibition ‘Tales of Chinatown’ on the High Line opening that same month. The exhibition, curated by High Line Art Associate Curator Taylor Zakarin, will showcase a series of short films exploring migration, memory, and the Chinese diaspora, expanding on the themes of Chinatown Cha-Cha.