International students share culture

By Lian Wong

Fresno State students gather at the Satellite Student Union every year to embrace the diverse cultures from all over the globe through songs, dances and other performances.

“ The International Culture Night has been carried out for 20 years now, since the 1980s,” said Felix Loh, the event’s host and coordinator.

But the International Culture Night held on Saturday hada few newly added flavors to it.

This was the first year that the computer-projected background on stage had animations incorporated into it. Yi-Juin Tan, a student at Fresno State, used 3D Studio Max to modify sample images, creating an eye-catching introduction.

He also designed a new logo for the Culture Night, which he said represents the beauty of different cultures of people from all seven continents in the world.

“ I left all my homework behind preparing for the culture night,” said Tan, who also performed for the Malaysian Student Organization.

Another new twist to the event was the Mexican folk dance performed by the Ballet Folklorico de Oro. They are the only group in Fresno to combine ballet with Mexican folk dance.

“ Usually, Mexican dancing is more traditional, involving the feet,” said Victor Rosas, Folklorico director and choreographer. “Here we bring out the body also.”

Also new to the performance was Ukrainian dance, headed by Anton Symkovych. The dance was unique because it required the audience to voluntarily come up on stage to learn from him.

Volunteers were abundant, but half of them had to leave the stage because it became a safety hazard.

“ I am amazed that the volunteers were so brave to come up on stage and dance in front of so many people,” Symkovych said.

Robert Lundal, a retired international student counselor who is kept informed on the various activities held by international students through e-mail, said, “I’m thrilled to see the old students. I see a lot of new students as well.”