The annual ‘One World’ Cultural Festival will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, in the Frame-Westerberg Commons.
The theme of this year’s festival will be Polynesia, featuring dancing by Tuika’s Polynesian Island Magic, as well as returning favorites, such as the International Sampling Buffet, a routine by the Pitt-Bradford Dance Team, the Parade of the Nations and a wide array of international displays and booths.
Those dining at the International Sampling Buffet are asked to bring a dish to share or make a $5 donation. There is no charge for Pitt-Bradford students.
Tuika’s Polynesian Island Magic is a Polynesian entertainment group from the Pittsburgh area that brings authentic Hawaiian and Polynesian dance, music and costumes with its Hawaiian Hula dancers and Samoan dancers.
The group has entertained for events throughout the United States and at colleges such as the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State and Allegheny College.
“This wonderful tradition began in the mid-1990s when the Black Action Committee sponsored the first Cultural Festival as part of Black History Month,” said Dr. Holly J. Spittler, co-chairperson of the Cultural Festival. “Since that time, the Cultural Festival has grown to become one of the university’s most anticipated and exciting events.”
Others participating in the “One World” festival include visiting professor Dr. Morio Arimoto of the Yokohama College of Commerce, Pitt-Bradford’s sister school in Japan. Arimoto will travel from Japan to participate in the festival, once again demonstrating the Japanese game “Go.”
The Pitt-Bradford Dance Team, in collaboration with Richille Denora, senior elementary education major and president of the Asian Student Alliance, will perform a medley of Polynesian dances.
Outside of the International Sampling Buffet will be other international tastings such as sushi provided by the Panthers Around the World club, “A Taste of Mexico” provided by the Nontraditional Student Association, Caribbean cuisine provided by the African American Student Union, and more.
Other international activities include making Japanese egg dolls with the Japanese Arts and Media Club, weaving baskets with the Division of Management and Education and origami and Chinese knot tying with the Asian Student Alliance.
The Commons Café will also be decorated with 31 flags symbolizing the majority of the diverse cultures and nations Pitt-Bradford students bring to the campus community. This year, the national flags represented include that of Albania, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, France, Gambia, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Singapore, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, US Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, US Territory of Northern Mariana Islands, Venezuela and Vietnam.
The Cultural Festival is supported by the Office of the President, Division of Academic Affairs, Division of Student Affairs, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Division of Communication and the Arts, Division of Management and Education, Division of Physical and Computational Sciences, Division of Biological and Health Sciences, Office of International Studies, Panthers Around the World, Student Government Association, Student Activities Council, Alpha Phi Omega, African American Student Union, Panthers Around the World, Nontraditional Student Association, Togi’s Family Restaurant and Metz and Associates.
For disability related needs, contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services at 814-362-7609 or clh71@pitt.edu.
--30--