Multicultural Week by Region

By Staff Writers Kaylin Teo, Emily Zhang & Aaqib Zishan

Celebrating the diversity of cultures worldwide, MSJ’s annual Multicultural (MC) Week, taking place from May 31 to April 4, encompasses a collection of cultural foods, vibrant decorations and flags, and stunning regional performances.

 

Latin Europe 

Latin European culture, represented by countries such as France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, united by their shared linguistic background from Vulgar Latin, celebrates its heritage through both elegant and upbeat dances, heartfelt music, and delicious foods. Ballet, which originated during the Italian Renaissance as a form of court entertainment, evolved into the art form we know today through centuries of development in France and Russia. This piece of culture was beautifully reflected by the MSJ students who brought it to life through a ballet performance set to “Valse,” composed by Léo Delibes. In addition, flavorful dishes from throughout Italy were served throughout the week for lunch, such as delicious macarons, alfredo pasta, and decadent tiramisù. 

 

South East Asia

Southeast Asia is a region rich in tradition, dance, and cuisine. During the MC week assembly, students experienced the region’s culture through a stunning Vietnamese performance featuring both Vu Phien, a traditional fan dance, and Mu non, a partner hat dance. The routine was choreographed to popular modern songs by Vietnamese artists, such as “See Tinh” by Hoang Thuy Linh and “Girls Like Me Don’t Cry” by Thuy, adding a contrasting element to the elegant traditional dance. In addition to the dance performances, students enjoyed flavorful Southeast Asian dishes like Pad thai, Thai tea, and Banh Mi.

 

South Asia

South Asian culture expresses stories and ideas through vibrant dances, colorful clothing, and flavorful dishes. Valuing family, community, respect for elders, and religious traditions, South Asia — which includes countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan — puts a strong emphasis on community. A new edition to the MC week assembly was the Afghan airband, where they performed Attan, a ritual dance where dancers gather in a circle and follow the music speed as it gradually increases. The dance originates from the tribal Pashtun regions, often used to celebrate weddings as a form of community. 

The Indian Fusion Singing airband sang classical Indian songs, accompanied by a Bharatanatyam performance utilizing intricate footwork and symbolic hand signs. The Bollywood airband ended the assembly with spirited combinations blending classical Indian dance, folk styles, and modern influences such as hip-hop or jazz. Throughout the week, students and teachers enjoyed traditional delicacies like fresh samosas, crispy papdi chaat, and refreshing kulfi.

 

Americas 

North America showcases rich diversity in cultural practices, from the energetic rhythms of hip-hop to the deep-rooted traditions of Native American dance. The MC week assembly opened with four traditional Native American dances, each showcasing complex, rhythmic footwork, ornate headpieces, and colorful, intricately detailed clothing. These performances not only celebrated self-expression but also held deeper meanings — serving as a way to pray, honor ancestors or to heal the sick.

In addition, a series of hip-hop performances were also part of the program, featuring energetic dances to popular mainstream songs such as “Sticky” by Tyler, The Creator, and “TORE UP” by Don Toliver. Hip-hop, introduced in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York, was the result of a cultural movement born out of resilience, creativity, and artistic expression, becoming a powerful voice for the disempowered youth. Today, it has become one of the world’s most popular forms of dance, with the culture of hip-hop being appreciated globally. To complement the cultural experience, students sampled garlic bread and cream cheese rangoons, offering a taste of comfort and flavor from across the continent.

 

East Asia

Deeply rooted in traditional customs of festivals, rituals, and social etiquette, East Asian culture consists of a rich artistic heritage emphasizing values of harmony and spirituality with the natural world. Cultural philosophies across countries in East Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan, share a root for Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism: philosophies that have shaped these countries’ histories. 

Kung Fu, an ancient Chinese martial art, involves philosophies of spiritual discipline influenced by principles and elements of nature such as observing animals’ movements. The MC week assembly saw advanced Kung Fu performers execute aerials and other variations of flips, hand-to-hand combat, and weaponry skills. “Kung Fu is a pretty big part of Chinese culture, so it’s a way for me to connect with my culture and display it to the whole school,” Sophomore Felicity He said.

Taekwondo, originating from Korea, highlights kicking and punching techniques and, through training, promotes values of perseverance, discipline, and integrity. The electrical energy of the sport is a vital part of Korea’s culture, fostering national pride and unity as a cornerstone of the Korean identity. Performers, all of whom attained black belts, demonstrated “gyeokpa” — striking wooden boards to shatter — and kicked petals off roses, eliciting loud cheers from the crowd. 

Remarkably showcased during the MC week assembly, classical Chinese dance tells stories of nature through graceful movements, depicting the lotus flower and reenacting water droplets. Classical Chinese dance uses the environment as a source of inspiration to express beauty, youth, and the fleeting nature of it all. At the MC week assembly, dancers dressed in blue-to-white ombre flowy costumes created beautiful formations while fluttering pink “tuan shan” resembling flowers. 

Originating in Ancient China, the Chinese Diabolo has been a part of East Asian culture for nearly 1,000 years. Made from two cups connected by an axle and spun on a string attached between two sticks, the complex juggling combines art and rhythm to express harmony. From long-distance tosses and catches to remarkable spins and grinds, students put on a lively show with incredible tricks, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. 

On a global scale, K-pop embodies complexity in choreography and fuses styles of pop, hip-hop, and rock. The K-pop airband stunned the crowd while performing popular, catchy songs accompanied by high-energy, synchronized dance such as “WANNABE” by ITZY and “No Doubt” by ENHYPEN. “The most difficult part of our performance was synchronizing our leg movements for the Wannabe dance break, where it took an entire lunch practice just to make that part of the dance look good and coordinated,” Sophomore Lionel Lu said.

 

Voices

“We are such a diverse community, but at the same time, we are all kind of whitewashed and Americanized, so it’s important to keep [in] touch with our roots while also exploring new things and learning about each other’s communities.” –Felicity He, 10

“The most difficult part of our performance was synchronizing our leg movements for the Wannabe dance break, where it took an entire lunch practice just to make that part of the dance look good and coordinated.” –Lionel Lu, 10

“I hope that the audience is all able to gain a further understanding of the diverse culture at our school, not just from what we presented in the assembly, but also through the numerous events and activities that clubs and programs host over the school year to deepen students’ appreciation and knowledge of the multicultural population here at MSJ.” –Lionel Lu, 10

“I hope the audience takes away that Kung Fu is really cool and that they should all try it because it’s super fun!” –Felicity He, 10

“I chose to participate in the MC assembly because I’m really passionate about Kung Fu, and performing is really fun. It’s something I get to do for myself instead of having someone force me to do it, so it was a really enjoyable experience. I also really appreciated bonding with the Kung Fu community at Mission.” –Felicity He, 10

“The [most fun] part of preparing was definitely the studio practices, which we had twice. It was really fun when we finished early and we would gossip until we all had to leave.” –Felicity He, 10