Abby McFarren
Contributing Writer
Amber Rush
Viewpoints Editor
The Culture Show will be held this Saturday, Nov. 2 from 7-9 p.m. in McGaw Chapel. It is a showcase which will feature student groups represent- ing different cultures here at Wooster. This event will kick off International Education Week which consists of events every day that highlight the different cultures represented by students at the College. The week starts with the Culture Show on Saturday and continues until Nov. 9.
The show includes performances from a variety of students from many different cultures. This includes international student groups, domestic student groups and some language programs offered around campus. Kate Yordy ’22 is participating in the Culture Show on behalf of the Russian Program at the College. They are organizing the Slavic Dance which blends traditional and modern Russian dance and culture to create their performance. She explains why she believes students should attend the Culture Show. She commented, “People should come to the Culture Show because it’s an opportunity for students and the community to experience the many cultures present on campus. I think the Culture Show is important because it provides a platform for Wooster students to express their culture in the way they want, taking control of the narrative surrounding their identity.”
Hitomi Okamura ’22 talked about her act with Team Japan, saying that they will be performing one of the most famous Studio Ghibli songs including sword acting. She explained, “Ghibli has become one of the largest parts of Japanese culture and sword acting is a traditional Japanese sport called Kendo.” Aside from getting to showcase her own culture, she said, “I can see what my friends’ hold cultures are like. For performers, it’s also a great opportunity to get to people from similar backgrounds through practices for our act.”
Students are urged to attend not only for diversity’s sake but to appreciate the craft and skill exhibited by each group. Each performance is artful, beautiful and entertaining. It is important to be supportive of your fellow students, particularly because they have contributed countless hours of practice and thought to express themselves in a unique and authentic manner. Elizabeth Suarez ’21, a student performing with Latinas Unidas, commented that to her, “the Culture Show means the ability to express myself to the Wooster community and to show pride of who I am.”
As a campus that emphasizes its diversity, it is vital to integrate the variety of identities within campus life. Natalia Parra ’21, one of the choreographers for the Latinas Unidas and OLAS dance performance, commented that “I love the culture show because it’s the only time I get to dance to that type of music that represents my culture. It’s the only moment that we get to pridefully show our culture to Wooster.” It is not an event that only international students should attend but that all students should attend to better understand the College community. It is a powerful testament to the beauty and intersection of the wide variety of cultures we have on campus. If you do choose to attend, appreciate the countless hours that went into creating this showcase. Appreciate the many identities that make up this College and the beauty of that diversity. Make a conscious effort to diversify your experiences. Take advantage of this opportunity and get to know something different.