Multicultural talent show features dance, music of various cultures

With everything from vibrant Indian clothing to melodic tunes and soulful rhythms, “Take ONE: A Multicultural Talent Competition” captured the talent of many performers Friday night at Willkie Auditorium. The event, hosted by Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., Willkie Residence Hall and the CommUNITY Education Program, ended Theta Nu Xi’s “Seven ONEders of the World” week.\nPerforming both traditional pieces such as Mozart’s “Variation on a Theme” and more eclectic acts such as a Middle-Eastern belly dance, the performers expressed their connection to culture though dance, song, instruments and spoken word. Although many said the show was entertaining, it was also educational. Before each act, the audience members were quizzed about the history of each performance for a prize. The competition was judged by Willkie Floor President Renee Walters, Luis Beverido of Lambda Upsilon Lambda, Vanessa Holiday of the Women’s Student Association and Eric Love from the Office of Diversity Education.\n“I believe learning through the art was a great way to become culturally aware of different cultures on campus,” said audience member Israel Laguer. “I believe that more events like this should take place.”\nAlthough Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.’s step routine performance won first place, the genre of step dancing owes its very existence to the genre of the second-place act, the Gumboot Dancers. Stepping in part evolved out of the Gumboot dance tradition and dates back as far as the 1920s, during the fraternity probates at Howard University, and expanded in the 1940s and 1950s to include various military formations as fraternity members came back from the war. Phi Beta Sigma is also the first fraternity known to step while using canes, according to the program.\nJames Cory Jordan , who melodically sung “Ribbon in the Sky” by Stevie Wonder, decided to participate in the competition after members of Theta Nu Xi heard him sing at the Jena 6 Rally and asked him to participate. Although Jordan was beaten out by the IU Essence Dance Team, the Gumboot dancers and Phi Beta Sigma Step Team, he said he enjoyed the experience. Jordan, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., felt it was important to support Theta Nu Xi in their endeavors. \n“As Greeks, if we don’t support each other, then who will?” Jordan asked.\nThe educational evening closed with a spectacular performance by Theta Nu Xi member Ruchi Shah , who performed an Indian filmi dance, which is often seen in Bollywood films. This style of dance is known for its exaggerated facial expressions and narrative quality, according to \nthe program. \nThe IU Theta Nu Xi Upsilon Chapter, founded in Spring 2003, continues to “promote leadership multiculturalism, and self-improvement, through academic excellence [and] living examples of sisterhood across different, races, cultures, religions, backgrounds, and lifestyles,” according to their Web site. For more information visit www.iub.edu/~tnx.