Nine international student groups performed dramas, dances and other cultural representations of their native countries.
“Tonight is the best show in town,” said emcee Olu Togun. “We have some new additions we think you will enjoy.”
Dana Jelovac, doctoral marketing student, said she enjoyed Cultural Night, although she thought Africa should have won first place for their reenactment of the history of Africa, complete with a witch doctor, lion hunters and warring tribes.
Malaysia took home a first-place trophy for the fourth year in a row.
“I liked the African part,” Jelovac said. “They should have won, I think. I heard that Malaysia always gets the first prize, and it’s kind of not fair. (The African performance) was original and it was different — it kind of told a story.”
Steve Haseley, coordinator of leadership development and a judge Friday night, said Cultural Night has grown since he came to OSU 15 years ago.
“They’ve gotten so much better, so much more professional,” he said.
Gabriella Olea, marketing senior and Bolivia native, said she loves Cultural Night because she enjoys other cultures.
“I love it,” Olea said. “I love to know of different cultures — we can learn a lot from them.”
She said she especially liked the Indian Student Association’s performance.
“It is so different, the way they dance,” Olea said.
The groups had 10 minutes to perform their acts.
ISA was the first to perform. They took their inspiration from the world-renowned Indian film industry, choosing songs from popular Indian musicals.
At one point, five Indian men came out in “club wear” and danced a disco style modern dance, complete with strobe lights and glitter.
The ISA garnered third place for its performance.
Pakistan and Thailand followed, each with different cultural representations.
Pakistan opened with a traditional song performed by a singer who sat in the center of the stage. Four dancers then came out and danced to a song by the popular band, “Awaz,” which was meant to symbolize the merging of old Pakistan music and Western music.
Thailand’s performance began with “Love at Sundown,” a song written by King Rama IX, and continued with a traditional Thai dance with a sword fight at center stage.
The Latin Dancing and Cultural Club followed with a guest performance of three variations of traditional Latin dances.
After Friday evening’s intermission, the Native American Student Association also presented a guest performance of native powwow dances. NASA received the people’s choice award for the Friday performances.
Robert Lincoln, drummer and NASA member, tried to joke with the audience between dances, but was out of breath.
“Sorry, but the announcer didn’t show up tonight,” he said. “That was supposed to be a joke,” he added, after a couple of awkward seconds, to which the audience laughed. “That’s what Native American people are like — we’re a joking kind of people.”
The Chinese Friendship Association followed NASA with a cultural pastime — karaoke.
Singers performed in front of a screen filled with images of China and song lyrics in Chinese. After the karaoke, Xiaobing Liu began to perform on the Chinese flute. Due to technical difficulties, the flute, which is made out of bamboo, wouldn’t cooperate.
The CFA also experienced problems Saturday night.One singer stood on stage while technicians tried to begin her accompanying music.
“If it can’t be fixed, I will sing without music,” she said, after a few minutes. She then wooed the audience with her a capella version.
The African Student Organization performed next, taking the audience through the past, present and future of Africa with exotic dances and drama.
The ASO garnered second place for its performance and Saturday night’s people’s choice award.
The Malaysian Student Society followed ASO in defense of its champion title. Its performance had several parts, starting with a traditional women’s tambourine tribal dance, followed by a dance from the east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak and the traditional fan dance still performed at weddings.
The Latin American Student Association performed last. The setting was Club LASA, which they called “the greatest Latin American club in Oklahoma.” They danced three variations of the meringue, the most popular Latin dance. The stage was set like a Latin American dance club and featured performers who encouraged the crowd to sing along.
President James Halligan said international students often have a higher grade point average than American students, and they do so in a language that is not their native tongue.
“To all you international students, I think you contribute greatly to the educational process at OSU,” Halligan said.
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