West Chester University will be hosting the 2008 International Festival to celebrate the third anniversary of West Chester University’s International Day the week of Monday Oct. 6, 2008. Festivities will run through Thursday focusing on the many achievement of Latino, African, and Asian cultures with a variety of exciting events and performances.
The 2008 International Festival provides the entire community with a better understanding of cultures different from their own, free of charge.
Kicking off the 2008 International Festival will be a lively and energetic performance by the Mariachia Tecatitlan band on Oct. 6 at 4 p.m. This will start at Old Library and the audience will walk with the band to Philips Memorial Building located at the corner of High Street and University Avenue.
After a short break, PHILADANCO: African Dances will take to the spotlight in Main Hall Auditorium, room 168, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the closing of a very exciting first day.
The festivities will continue Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. with the WCU Student Organizations Go Global International Performances. It takes place in the Main Hall Auditorium, room 168.
A variety of student organizations will come together for presentations that reinforce the importance of different cultures displaying the international flavor that we see around us. Performances will include authentic music, dances, songs, and costumes displaying the beauty and individuality of each culture.
On the third day of the 2008 International Festival, participants will have the opportunity to visit and explore an Asian Cultural Exhibit from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Autograph Library of Philips Memorial Building, located on the second floor.
The Exhibit will showcase a variety of artifacts from the Asian culture including sculptures, clothing, and even puppets from various Asian nations across the country. After the Exhibit on Wednesday, artifacts will be displayed on the second floor of the Francis Harvey Green Library for all to enjoy.
In addition to the Asian Culture Exhibit, participants are welcomed to listen and watch as flamenco performers Anna and Tito Rubio show off their traditional instruments and dances. Tito will lift audience members off their feet with his Spanish guitar and Anna will amaze onlookers as she performs authentic flamenco dances.
There will be an interactive performance as audience participation is encouraged. The Rubios will be performing from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Auditorium of Main Hall, room 168.
The festival will conclude on Thursday, Oct. 9, with an International dinner, which is by invitation only. The dinner will take place in the lower level conference room of Philip’s Memorial Building from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Guests of honor include Honorable Dewang Fu, Vice Consul of the Education Office and Honorable Xu Zhoa, Vice Consul of the Cultural Office from the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, New York.
Responsible for this four day long even is the Organizational Committee of the 2008 International Festival. Members include the hardworking Dr. Cecilia Chien, Dr. Celia Esplugas, Dr. William Lalicker, Professor Awilda Reyes, and Dr. Godpal Sankaran. To make it all possible, the 2008 International Festival is being sponsored by Dr. Mike Ayewoh, Assoicate Vice President of the Office of Sponsored Research and Faculty Development, Richeleen Dashiel, Director of the Office of Social Equity, Dr. Lori Vermeulen, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Jerry Williams, Chairperson to the Department of Foreign Languages, and the Deans’ Council.
The 2008 International Festival celebrates the culmination of this year’s successes in better acknowledging the uniqueness of a wide variety of ethnicities that are present around us.
The Unites States is known as the melting pot of the world and the 2008 International Festival is giving West Chester students and community members alike a chance to recognize this and gain a better understanding of the diverse cultures contributing to this melting pot as we continue to “build bridges and cross borders.”
For more information about the 2008 International Festival sponsored by West Chester University one may contact Professor Ana Sánchez by email at asanchez@wcupa.edu or by telephone at 610-436-3327. Professor María J. Cabrera may also be contacted for more information at mcabrera@wcupa.edu or by telephone at 610-436-2371.
Maggie Cosgrove is a third-year student majoring in elementary education with a minor in reading. She can be reached at MC626229@wcupa.edu.