Students dance away cultural stigma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Lucas Kellis

Staff Writer

While dark and cold outside, the second floor of the Siek Campus Center illuminated a bright, warm and energy-filled spirit to bring to life the excitement of cultural heritage.

On Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 5-7 p.m. in the Siek Campus Center, students, friends and family were invited to enjoy free food and dances from various cultures.

“Culture pride night is embracing this diversity,” President of the Foreign Language and Culture Club, Ganiat Giwa said. “We do have a lot of international students and every culture has its own beauty to it,” she said. “The whole point of recognizing that diversity is that you get to see all those colors and see this huge painting that encompasses everyone’s story into this world.”

Students were able to enjoy a diverse spread of dishes representing the different cultures around the world. There was everything from Italian ziti, Caribbean jerk chicken, Chinese crab rangoons and the all-American fried chicken and french fries.

The event included performances by an Afro-Caribbean Dance Group, a Sudanese Dance Group and a Bollywood Dance Group.

The first main event of the night was marked by a presentation of traditional-style belly dancing. The dancer captured the audience with the swirling colors of her costume and rhythmic movements of her body.  

During one of her dances, she was balancing candles on her head. In another, she enticed a group from the audience to join her.

Then next dance presentation was done by a group displaying many different themes and motifs found across different African cultures.

The group dominated the floor with their energetic and coordinated movements. There was not a dull moment throughout the whole performance.

Lastly, there was a Bollywood style dance presented with accompanying dress and music. It offered a great look into one of the worlds fastest-expanding entertainment market.

More people joined in as the music continued. Bollywood dancing often employes a Michael Jackson like-size group of dancers. This certainly was reflected in the act.

Students were more than excited and pleased with the event overall.

“[I enjoyed] being around the Mexican/Hispanic table because I’m so tied to Arizona,” Griffin Onderchain, individual studies major, said. “That’s where my mom and a lot of [my] family are from so it really helped me appreciate those cultural connections.”

Taking opportunities such as Pride Night to share cultural differences was important to liberal arts student, Emma Hall, of Welsh descent.

“We all came from someplace other than here for the most part,” Hall said. “So it feels important to know where our ancestors came from, who they were and what they did.”

David Flansburgh, liberal arts major, agreed.

“I really think that it’s important we embrace other traditions and cultures,” he said. “It’s the one thing that has the ability to bring different people together because we’re all sharing [it].”

Giwa believes one of the important aspects of the Foreign Language and Culture Club is to have a safe-haven where students can be themselves.

“It’s very common for people of different culture to feel like they have to change that or suppress it to try and fit in,” Giwa said. “The foreign culture club is to tell people that you don’t have to be the same, you can be different,” she said. “Own your uniqueness; own your culture!”