It’s one of the most colourful and cultural nights on campus.
On Saturday, March 3, the Dalhousie’s International Students’ Association (DISA) presented a gala evening of cultural celebration at the McInnes Room in the Student Union Building. Over 100 people were in attendance at the yearly International Night event to enjoy the diverse and exuberant performances.
“Each performance demonstrates a generosity of spirit… [and] showcases how culture is preserved by today’s generation, a generation that for the first time is truly ‘global’,” said Meri-Kim Oliver, assistant vice-president of Student Academic Success Services, who delivered the opening remarks.
The acts ranged from Saudi Arabian musicians, the dulcet tones of Malaysian singers, serene traditional Chinese classical dance and even local Celtic highland dancers. But it was the high energy Bollywood numbers that stole the show, captivating the audience with bold and beautiful performances.
Celebrating culture
The Bollywood dancers’ fancy footwork melded together numerous styles of moves from belly-dancing, kathak, Indian folk, western hip hop and even jazz. Each dance gave way to a story incorporated through the movement and body language of the colourful dancers. Even those who were not as familiar with the popular Bollywood films being referenced in the dances felt the excitement of the performance.
With the continued success of the event, the organizers hope is that the audience and performances will continue to grow as well.
“I think it benefits the Dal community in a huge way,” said Lenah Kitenge, vice-president of events for DISA and one of the MCs of the night. “ I think it really helps people who are coming from all over the world, leaving their homes to come to this new place. It’s a way for them to interact and connect with the community. It certainly helped for me.
“I think it also greatly benefits those who come and are living off campus. It’s a way to get involved in both the Dalhousie community and the local community.”
When asked where she sees the event heading in the future, Ms. Kitenge replied, “I can see it on something like CTV, or another large news channel. I think I can just see more people coming out, and more coverage by the community to get the word out. It’s a great event and people need to be aware of it so we can celebrate our diverse Canadian culture.”