Choreographed to the sharp snaps of long bamboo sticks against SPAC’s studio floor, McCormick fourth-year Sophia Tay teaches fellow dancers routines on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The other days, Tay trains to the pulse of Bollywood-fusion medleys amplified onto competition stages. 

For Tay, cultural dance is more than performance — it is a bridge to both her own heritage and new traditions. At Northwestern, Tay leaps between Tinikling,  a traditional Filipino folk dance, and a fusion of Bollywood and South Asian cultural dances.

“These are two very different groups of people, but they both just share that same commonality of the love of dance,” Tay says.

Born in the Philippines and raised in Singapore, Tay grew up surrounded by a variety of cultures. In her high school’s yearly cultural showcase, she volunteered to participate in Caribbean and Nigerian dance performances.

After coming to NU, Tay immediately felt the shift from being part of the ethnic majority to a minority. 

She quickly joined Northwestern’s Filipino organization, Kaibigan, for its warm community and traditional dance workshops.

“When I found out that they do Tinikling, I was honestly surprised because that was something that we did back in my elementary school in the Philippines,”  Tay says. “Knowing that my culture was being shared and appreciated here was really great to see.”

Kaibigan’s Tinikling program encourages everyone to audition, regardless of their dance experience. Weekly classes build up to a performance at Kaibigan’s annual Pinoy Show. 

This year, Tay is serving her first year as a Tinikling instructor. Her co-dance committee head,  McCormick third-year Elizabeth Park, describes Tay as warm, kind and energetic. Park recalls a Kaibigan social event where Tay went out of her way to welcome new members.

“Tay incorporated everyone into our games and animated the atmosphere,” Park says. “She’s bold and confident in herself.”

Tay says Kaibigan played a vital role in helping her find a sense of community at Northwestern. While she cherishes the opportunity to represent her heritage through exploring traditional practices with fellow students, she’s also found a home at Deeva, Northwestern’s audition-based Bollywood and South Asian fusion dance team. 

“It’s so important to broaden your perspectives and not just stick to your own people,” Tay says. 

In her freshman year, Tay attended Deeva’s spring show performance and was inspired by their tight synchrony and close-knit community. 

“I wanted to join a team that was a bit smaller — where I could get to know everyone on a deeper level,” Tay says. “They’re like my family here.”
Deeva attends annual state-wide competitions and frequently collaborates with South Asian performance groups from neighboring schools. While Kaibigan prioritizes fostering cultural appreciation, Deeva emphasizes achieving cohesion, Tay says.

Tay says she finds it challenging to switch between the expectations of the two teams. 

“I have to restrain myself from correcting people during [Kaibigan] clinics to do things perfectly when that’s not what it’s about,” Tay says. 

Additionally, balancing the time commitments of both teams on top of academics can be strenuous, she says.

Tinikling and Bollywood fusion require intricate hand and footwork, demanding practice outside of meetings. Between Deeva’s regular rehearsals and Kaibigan’s Tinikling workshops, Tay spends up to 22 hours a week in the studio. 

While Deeva trains dancers to perform a blend of South Asian and Western movements, Kaibigan typically teaches Tinikling in its most traditional form.  

But this year, Tay is bringing a new spin to Kaibigan’s 2025 Pinoy Show: modern Tinikling. 

Tay plans to blend pop music and hip-hop elements into her choreography. She says fusion will demonstrate that Tinikling and other cultural dances can evolve over time while preserving their core traditions. 

As graduation approaches, Tay says she’s grateful for NU’s opportunities to explore cultural performance and solidify her notion of identity.

“My parents always joke that since I’ve come to Northwestern, I’ve become more Filipino,” Tay says.