On November 15th, IU students and members of the Hoosier and Bloomington communities enjoyed a spectacular celebration of cultures at IU World’s Fare. This event featured world cultures through regional dance, music, and cuisine. Booths of diverse exhibits were set up by student organizations to represent different cultures from their home countries. Booths offered games, costuming, and had expanded offerings from previous years! Students also submitted recipes for chefs to cook for the audience, providing the audience with a culinary tour of typical dishes throughout the cultures represented.
The Office of International Services and Union Board organized this event and was made possible in a large part from the support of the student organizations featured in the booths and performances at the event. Co-chair Huizhong Wu remarked that “these student organizations are like hosts welcoming guests to their home.”
The celebration continued with student performances. For many, this is their favorite part of the event, with incredible artistry and talent onstage. Student performers worked hard to present the best version of themselves on stage, which was evident in the electric energy of their performances. The Traditional Chinese Dance was a favorite, for its elegance and beauty, and all performances were of high quality. From hip hop to traditional dances, the performances ran the gamut of possibility.
This year was remarkable in how well attended the event was, and students were collectively engaged and interested in learning about other cultures. We are lucky to have a campus so rich with diversity and talent for the arts! This event is a unique chance to bridge cultures through the exchange of ideas, arts, and understanding.
For more pictures, visit our World’s Fare photo album.
