CHINATOWN CHA CHA
FILM REVIEW
A dazzling tribute to legendary dancer Coby Yee, screened at the Austin Asian American Film Festival
TMN Exclusive: Interview with Director Luka Yuanyuan Yang at the Austin Asian American Film Festival.
Hi, I’m Aja Haywood, a TMN Creator, and I recently had the opportunity to cover the red carpet at the 17th annual Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF). This was my second time covering an event with TMN. I had a bit more confidence this time around, but I was still nervous — especially about my hair lol.
AUSTIN, TX. By Aja Haywood
I came prepared by learning more about what makes AAAFF so special and why it deserves to be documented. The festival celebrates stories from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities through film. It also highlights AANHPI issues and fosters community through partnerships with creatives and organizations. The lineup includes stories from the Asian diaspora, Asian American voices, international perspectives, and local Texan filmmakers.
One of the most life-affirming and magical films I experienced at AAAFF was Chinatown Cha-Cha, directed by Luka Yuanyuan Yang. The documentary tells the vibrant and moving story of Coby Yee, a legendary Chinese American dancer who began her career in the 1940s at San Francisco’s historic Forbidden City nightclub. What began as a bold and risqué cabaret dance scene soon became Coby’s lifelong passion. Not only did she perform there — she eventually became the owner!
Now at age 93, Coby joins a senior cabaret troupe called the Grant Avenue Follies. The film follows Coby and her fellow dancers as they tour the world — from the US to Cuba to China — reigniting a sense of cultural pride and joy through performance. Even in her nineties, Coby lights up the stage. Her energy, charisma, and dedication are deeply inspiring.
As a young dancer myself, this film really touched me. Watching Coby continue to move with such grace and joy despite her age was a reminder that passion never fades. It might change form, but it stays alive as long as you feed it. Seeing her dance in front of breathtaking backdrops like open mountains brought tears to my eyes. Those cinematic shots captured something timeless — the freedom, the elegance, and the endurance of a woman who never let go of her art.
“As a young dancer myself, this film really touched me. Watching Coby continue to move with such grace and joy despite her age was a reminder that passion never fades.”
The film is also a beautiful tribute to Coby Yee’s life. She passed away in 2020, and this documentary honors not only her legacy as a performer but also as a trailblazer and cultural icon. Her love story with Stephen King, her husband and dance partner, is also featured. Their relationship adds a tender layer to the narrative, showing how connection and creativity can intertwine and sustain us.
What I found especially moving was the sense of community among the Grant Avenue Follies. These women weren’t just dancing for nostalgia — they were living fully, encouraging other seniors to find joy in movement, and proving that age does not define our capacity to create or express. The film carries a powerful message: when you live with passion, age truly becomes just a number.
Chinatown Cha-Cha is a film filled with light, rhythm, and heart. It left me inspired to keep dancing — not just in the literal sense, but through every creative part of my life. Coby Yee’s story is proof that the spirit of passion can last a lifetime, and that joy, once found, is something we can always return to.
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