The dazzling lights reflect off of a disco ball above the performers, the neon colors illuminate the stage, gobo lights draw patterns on the pavement and a crowd of multicultural backgrounds gathers in front of the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center, anticipating the beginning of the program. The crowd gradually moves closer to the stage, the spotlight searches for its target and the concert begins.

Last Thursday, NYUAD hosted Disco Manila’s debut concert at the East Plaza. Disco Manila is made up of several different Filipino singers and bands, such as VST & Co and The Union, that come together to perform music from the Manila Sound Era — a period from the 1970s to the 1980s. The group’s concept is simple. As stated on their Facebook page, “Disco Manila is created purely for the appreciation and respect of music and musicians of Filipino popular music.”

The concert began with a song that resonated with many of the Filipino attendees — Manila by the Hotdogs. This song introduced the Manila Sound era to the crowd, utilizing the disco sound and mixing English and the Filipino language in what Filipinos refer to as Taglish, as well as depicting the capital city, Manila. It is a song familiar to many Filipinos of various generations that excites their nostalgic memories of Manila.

The crowd, a mixture of NYUAD members, Filipinos and music enthusiasts, sang and danced in a frenzy, losing themselves to the disco music and lights of the concert. The performers engaged the crowd in singing and dancing, holding their mics to the crowd, urging them to sing along. Space became tighter and tighter but the dancing continued while social media enthusiasts took pictures and videos.

The day after, NYUAD hosted the Disco Manila group for a karaoke event at the same location. The event was open to everyone willing to get on stage to perform with the same band from the night before — as long as they signed up. Participants were also judged by a panel and at the end of the day, NYUAD freshman Ana Karneža took home the gold medal.

The karaoke event featured songs in English, Filipino and a mixture of both. The English songs were global hits while the Filipino songs were closer to the Manila Sound era.

Only 11 of the 47 songs from the list were Filipino songs — understandably, as non-Filipinos interested in performing at the center stage could easily sing along to hit songs in English. Even the English songs on the list were songs normally sung on Filipino karaoke machines and still brought back the nostalgia of Filipino karaoke culture along with the live band and background singers.

Disco Manila opened NYUAD grounds for a night of dance and music followed by an afternoon of lively karaoke performances. Members of the NYUAD, Filipino and wider Abu Dhabi communities bonded on the East Plaza, popping the Saadiyat bubble through song and dance.