Meet the Filmmaker Telling the Untold Stories of San Francisco’s Chinatown Dance Legends

Following its theatrical release in China, Beijing-based visual artist and filmmaker Luka Yuanyuan Yang’s debut feature film, Chinatown Cha-Cha, is embarking on an international tour. Having made pit stops in London, Berlin, and Munich this month, and with screenings planned in New York and San Francisco in May, the documentary shines a light on the life of the remarkable 92-year-old former nightclub dancer, Coby Yee, as well as San Francisco dance troupe, the Grant Avenue Follies, as they return to the stage for a final, historic tour.

Reflecting on the genesis of the film, Yang explains to Something Curated: “My projects typically begin with historical research, and I’m particularly drawn to stories that connect past and present, bridging different cultures and generations. My initial interest was sparked by research into Anna May Wong and other Chinese women in 20th century performing arts in America. Their stories revealed both the struggles and triumphs of navigating the entertainment industry during a time of intense discrimination. When I discovered the story of the Grant Avenue Follies and met Coby Yee, I was immediately captivated by how their experiences illuminated this crucial yet overlooked chapter of Chinese American history. The nightclub era of Chinatown represented both cultural constraints and creative resistance – these performers found ways to express themselves artistically despite racial discrimination and limited opportunities.”

At the centre of Chinatown Cha-Cha is a celebration of intergenerational dialogue. “This aspect became central to the film’s narrative,” Yang shares. “These dancers, now in their 70s to 90s, carry memories of a vanishing era in Chinatown’s history. Through documenting their stories and performances, we’re not just preserving history but actively engaging with it. Their continuing performances today show how cultural heritage can be kept alive and reinterpreted across generations.” One of the most unexpected revelations during Yang’s research was the discovery of extensive transnational networks that once connected Chinatowns across the Americas. “Learning about the cultural exchanges between San Francisco and Havana’s Chinatowns, through touring opera troupes and film distributions, revealed a rich history of cultural resilience and adaptation that had been largely forgotten,” she tells.

Yang has expanded the project into the literary realm with Dance in Herland, a companion book presented in conjunction with the documentary. “I’ve always been drawn to bookmaking as a natural conclusion to my projects – it’s a way to bring together research, archives, images, and text in a format that viewers can engage with at their own pace. Unlike film, which requires continuous viewing, a book allows readers to pause, reflect, and return to different elements of the story. It became a space to include extended archives, scholarly articles, and personal narratives that couldn’t fit within the film’s format. In this way, the book becomes like a ‘paper film,’ preserving these stories for future generations while offering a different kind of storytelling experience.”

Considering the idea of performance as activism, the artist continues: “For these performers, especially during the Chinese Exclusion era, performance was indeed a form of resistance and cultural assertion. When Coby and others took the stage, they weren’t just entertaining – they were demonstrating Chinese Americans’ artistic excellence and challenging stereotypes. Today, when the Grant Avenue Follies perform, they’re not just dancing but reclaiming and celebrating their cultural heritage.” By honouring the pioneering spirit of performers like Yee and the Grant Avenue Follies, Yang offers not just a tribute to the past but a call to preserve and reinterpret the narratives of diasporic resilience for future generations.

Chinatown Cha-Cha US Tour

Roxy Cinema New York & High Line, New York – 20 May 2025, 7PM
New York Premiere, Feature Film screening + Q&A
Address: 2 6th Avenue Cellar Level, New York, NY 10013

High Line – 9 May–9 July 2025
Tales of Chinatown, Luka Yuanyuan Yang Solo Exhibition
Address: On the High Line at 14th Street, New York

San Francisco Chinatown, Mother’s Day Special Event – 11 May 2024
Screening at Great Star Theatre, 2-4PM
636 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Tickets HERE

Book Talk at On Waverly Moderated by Christine Ni, 4:30-6PM
162 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94102
RSVP HERE

Showgirl Magic Museum opens from 4pm-7pm, free admission.
2 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108

Feature image: Luka Yuanyuan Yang, Still from Chinatown Cha-Cha, 2024. Courtesy the Artist