For many of the incoming Freshmen, the highlight of the Orientation occurred on the Aug. 28 during the Coffeehouse Talent Show. Talents ranged from traditional Chinese harp or guqin to contemporary K-Pop dance. Others included singing, guitar, stand up comedy, calligraphy, and magic tricks. The audience, comprised mostly of freshman and sophomore students, was not only respectful of each performance but extremely supportive, clapping and cheering after each act. Even when a few voices cracked, the audience remained compassionate of each student’s bravery—after all, these students were performing in front of classmates they barely knew!When asked about the overall performance Victoria Rusu (’19) said:“The audience reacted really well. Everyone was really excited about it, and I think it was a great opportunity for the kids to meet each other and discover each others’ talents. It was an awesome opportunity for people to get together.” On a similar note, many new friendships developed over the talent show rehearsals. Freshman Jia Xuanhua, a K-pop dancer, said:“I think the dance went pretty well. Actually I have never tried dancing in front of people before, it was the first time I’ve danced in front of so many people, and the cooperation with my roommate, Fanci, was very good and it enhanced our relationship.” The Coffeehouse performance was also an excellent opportunity for various students to come out of their shells in a social context. Those originally seen as shy proved quite the opposite once they set foot on stage and started belting their favorite tunes. “I liked when Kevin (’19) sang my love. He was kind of reserved so nobody really expected him to come out and sing like that—it was very high school musical—and when he sang that song everyone was waving their hands. It was a very valuable moment,” said freshman Peter Hanhan. Overall, the Talent Show was a first-rate event that required much effort and practice from each student. Besides, the supportive and enthusiastic audience made Coffeehouse performances an immense success. With many students’ talents closely related to their unique backgrounds, the Talent Show embodied the multicultural spirit that NYU Shanghai strives to foster as a international university. This article was written by Maeve Lazor. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Isabella Farr