Dancing Together Under One Sky, Alcorn Celebrates Multicultural Festival
Colorful flags, national attires, with food sounds of music, and dances from around the world filled the air over the Lorman campus of Alcorn State University during its 11th annual Multicultural Festival on March 19, 2016.
Held since 2005, the festival celebrates the many diverse cultures represented at and around the University.
Dr. Dovi Alipoe, director of the Office of Global Programs, used this year’s theme, ‘Dancing Together Under One Sky,’ to open and welcome hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and guests to the festival.
“I would like to thank the Office of Global Programs, the festival committee and Mississippi Cultural Crossroads for their hard work in making this program possible,” adds Alipoe. “Our students, staff, and faculty represent over 30 countries and it’s important to showcase the multicultural and diverse aspect of the University to expose the campus and the surrounding communities to different cultures and to encourage students to study abroad.”
Dr. Donzell Lee, provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs, gave the proclamation for the program on behalf of the University President, Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr. The proclamation was given in recognition of the importance of the multicultural festival in celebrating the different cultures and their ethnic backgrounds from all over the world.
Felicia Harried, user interface architect in the Center for Information Technology and Services, who served as mistress of ceremonies, introduced the festival’s key performance participants, La Quinta del Lobo.
This world-renowned dance theater from Bogota, Columbia, was brought to Alcorn in cooperation with Mississippi Cultural Crossroads, a non-profit organization in Port Gibson, Mississippi. During their breath-taking performance titled, “The Mangrove Tales,” the artists shared a story of their country’s past and present through a combination of dance, song, pantomime and a light theatrical
The colorful, cultural and ever-popular fashion show was also featured on the program. Alcorn students, faculty and staff mastered the catwalk wearing traditional clothing of their respective countries such as China, Russia, Philippines, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, India, Yemen, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Egypt, Mauritania, and the United States.
Fashion show participant, Marlon Gray, a junior from New Orleans, Louisiana, states, “Participating in the festival gave me the opportunity to explore different cultures without even leaving the campus,” says Marlon. “I enjoyed myself so much, and I hope that the attendees gain a better understanding and appreciation of the world’s diversity.”
The festival also included songs from Pakistan and Israel, as well as dances performed by students from Brazil, line dance by the festival participants and the audience, and the Greek organizations presentations.
Concluding the event, the audience were invited to enjoy the taste of cultural food delights, music and dance videos as well as displays highlighting the diversity at Alcorn.
For more information on this and future events, please contact the Office of Global Programs at [email protected] or 601-877-6533.
Student Media Interns Deja Harris and KeAmber Council contributed to this story.
