More than 200 people danced the night away as they got a taste of three cultural dances Friday night.
The Iranian Students of ASU organized a tri-cultural dance mixer that included Arabic, salsa and Persian performances in the Memorial Union.
"It is a good way to unite all the international cultures," said electrical engineering senior Pourya Shahnaz, who disc jockeyed the party.
The mixer acted as a get-together but was also a way to publicize the group's ultimate goal.
"We are in the process of implementing Persian language courses," said Sogol Homayoun, president of ISA.
ASU has approved the Persian language courses but has asked the student group to raise money to fund the program.
By May, ISA hopes to have $10,000 so classes can open by the first summer session, Homayoun said.
"[The mixer was a] great way to see many aspects of the mid-eastern culture and help contribute to ISA," she said.
Arabic dancing, better known as belly dancing, kicked off the night.
The dance originated as an abdominal exercise to prepare girls for pregnancy, said Homayoun, as she introduced the performers.
Salsa dancing came next.
Bioengineering sophomore Sonya Seif-Naraghi described the style as "a combination of many Latin and African dances."
Seif-Naraghi participated in the final performance of the night: Persian dance.
"[Persian dance is a] colorful mosaic of costumes accompanied by music," said Olivia Martin, a biochemistry senior, who presented the dance wearing traditional Iranian costume.
"The dance has lovely, expressive hand movements," Martin said.
Before the performance started, the Persian dance was taught to attendees. Students filled the dance floor as the evening came to an end.
Seif-Naraghi said she was happy with the turnout.
"There is a richness of a culture that isn't always seen in a positive light or isn't known at all," she said.
Reach the reporter at amanda.m.gonser@asu.edu.
