Festival serves as ‘bridge’ to cultural exchange
More than 150 strangers held hands, stepping to the beat of the drums in an attempt to perform their own version of a Native American circle dance.
They stretched through the entire Muenster University Center Ballroom April 6 doing this — stumbling, laughing, keeping time.
Angelica Gabriel, director of Wesley Campus in Vermillion, was alongside her Haitian husband, Raphaél Gabriel, for the dance — one of many activities featured at this year’s Festival of Nations.
“I don’t know what heaven looks like, but I’d like to think it’s something like this,” she said.
There was traditional food, clothing and performances from around the world throughout the three-hour event, hosted at the University of South Dakota by the International Student Club.
At least 15 food stations were featured with dishes ranging from a French beef bourguignon to the Haitian rice and beans with red sauce on the side.
About 30 nationalities were represented around the ballroom, said ISC adviser Carrie Prentice, associate professor in communications studies.
This is the sixth festival Prentice has overseen. Each year, she said, between the “food, beautiful clothes, music and laughter,” this event promotes a greater respect between cultures.
“Maybe this sounds cheesy, but this is how we make peace in the world,” Prentice said.
Tickets costed $12 per adult into the festival, and these proceeds will go to event expenditures, ISC and a scholarship designated for international students, Prentice said.
Festival of Nations is “a bridge” between the local and international community in the region, said ISC President and USD graduate student Didarul Islam Manik.
“The celebration is engaging, full of energy and not just to embrace, but exchange each other’s traditions,” he said.
Manik is from Bangladesh and has been in the United States for about nine months. He said he has great initiative to lead these kind of cultural exchanges, a trait which perhaps led to his election as ISC president after only 15 days on campus.
Vermillion resident Michelle Chaussee attended the event with her eight-year-old daughter, Grace Chaussee, who was there for a Girl Scouts activity.
“As a mom, yeah, it’s important to know my child is getting this exposure to other cultures at a young age,” Michelle Chausee said. “I want to make sure she knows to be respectful to other traditions.”
International events on campus continue this semester with African Celebration Night April 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the MUC Ballroom.
Photo: Participants in the Festival of Nations perform a traditional dance from India April 6 in the Muenster University Center ballroom. (Malachi Petersen/The Volante)
