Morgan Hunter

Contributing Writer

On a campus celebrating many students of different cultural backgrounds, experiences and stories, it makes sense that International Education Week would be a highly-anticipated celebration year after year. This past Saturday, Nov. 9, around 800 people filed into McGaw Chapel — with countless others tuning in via livestream — eager to see the grand finale to the week: the Culture Show. Here are the highlights:

The Pipe Band kicked off the evening by playing a number of new music selections combined with old favorites. Student emcees Rayan Dos Passos ’25 and Mehdia Sadat ’27 welcomed everyone with an opening speech emphasizing the importance of uniting as a community. Next, the main event began; audience members were on the edge of their seats cheering on their friends performing heartfelt ballads, electrifying dances and waving their flags with pride.

“The crowd is always supportive, but it was even better this year,” Nachi Goto ’25, co-captain of Chasing International Dance, said. 

Jorge Quinteros ’25, who performed an Argentine song, agreed, adding that, “all the participating groups put significant effort into their performances, which is already a success.”

It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement and grandeur of the performances, but it is important to remember that the Culture Show is intended to help multicultural students come together, celebrate their differences and share their pride. 

Student participants take this in stride. Quinteros shared how his choice in song, “Alto Paraná,” describes the landscape of their hometown, helping him feel connected despite the distance. 

Others, such as Igna Mendez ’25, combined passion with education, turning members of the cross country team into “Honorary Chileans” through a choreographed Chilean dance.

“It was my friends’ excitement to learn a Chilean dance that led me to do it — they inspired [me] through their support,” Mendez said. 

Through excitement to get involved, new student organizations have developed, such as the K-pop Dance Crew. “Many of the members joined because they saw us at the Culture Show the past two years or just had an interest in K-pop,” said Keara Wiley ’26, one of the K-pop Dance Crew’s founders. She hopes this trend will continue, especially because the group is set to become official this spring.

The Culture Show is an opportunity for clubs on campus to plan, prepare and perform programs that represent the diversity of their members. Chasing International Dance is known to blow the roof off McGaw, but few realize the attention to detail that Chasing executes. “Our members suggest pieces that they would be interested in performing and then our board votes and decides who will teach them,” Maura Ellenberger ’25, a Chasing co-captain, said. “We try to pick a variety of styles so that all of our members will have the opportunity to shine.”

Other organizations — such as Latinas Unidas (LU) — are also keen to plan a show that best represents the diversity of their members. Including everything from salsa to bachata as well as cumbia Mexicano and merengue, LU wanted to capture a wide scope of the art and tradition of Latin America. “We believe that cultural heritage and artistic expression go hand in hand,” Lily Romo ’24 said on behalf of LU.

Events like these rarely happen overnight, and the Culture Show is no different. Melissa Hartman of International Student Services makes it her passion and purpose to run an organized preparation process. Though it is a large task, Hartman embraces the effort every year, explaining how it is the students who make it all worth it.

“I love collaborating with them to provide them with a platform to shine and show their culture in meaningful ways,” Hartman said. “It is truly a celebration.”

With Culture Show 2024 having drawn to a close, the only question now is: what’s next? Why, Culture Show 2025! All students are welcome to be involved, whether that be onstage, or backstage. Pay attention on campus next September for advertisements and for any additional information. Students are always invited to email Melissa Hartman at mhartman@wooster.edu.