Students’ Showcase Diversity

By Malkaiah Malik ‘15

The rapid pounding of a djembe drum blasts out of the speakers, and for the umpteenth time girls clad in tights practice their African dance for the upcoming International Show, held March 20. The show is an annual event at Sherwood in which the International Club depicts many cultures through fashion shows and dances.

The annual show represents different cultures every year as more students with various backgrounds join the club. This year Indian, West African, South Korean and South American countries will be portrayed. “We’re having an African fashion show, Asian fashion and Latin fashion. A lot of the kids are doing fashion and having a separate dance,” said International Club Sponsor Christiane Lock.

Not only has the show’s content changed this year—the rehearsals have as well. Last year, all participating students piled into the dance room to practice, but this year rehearsals are individualized. “Groups are rehearsing individually with me. Each group has their own rehearsal schedule but the week of the show we will all rehearse together,” Lock said.

As students prepare for the upcoming show, the club faces multiple obstacles. Performing groups are in different stages of preparation and some club members don’t have a consistent place to rehearse. “Getting the dance room can be difficult because a lot of people sign up for the room, so sometimes we use the classroom and move desks around,” said Lock. “Right now all groups are rehearsing and are in various stages. Some groups know what they’re doing and others need a few weeks to rehearse.”

The International Show is the climax for the International Club, but since the club is year-round members host other activities outside of the show. In addition to fundraising, members host monthly cultural dinners, where people bring in foods and drinks from different countries and participate in ethnic activities. “One person demonstrated Bangura, another taught origami, and another brought henna tattoos,” said Lock.