Two dancers stepped and twisted in close embrace across a performance stage set up on Hayden Lawn Tuesday, drawing the attention of passersby and inviting them to stop and watch the dance of an unfamiliar culture.
The dancers were part of the ASU Tango Club, one of many organizations featured at the 2011 ASU World Festival.
The festival takes place every spring semester and focuses on the diversity found at the University and the many cultures that ASU students represent, said event coordinator Sherril Tomita.
“ASU has a great diversity of students and this is a way we are able to celebrate the international student communities at ASU,” Tomita said.
Information tables, food booths and a performance stage were set up on Hayden Lawn where visitors could sample food, learn about different cultures and watch performances.
In addition to the tango club, eight other groups performed cultural dances and songs.
“It was cool; it looked like it took a while to learn,” speech and hearing science freshman Leanne Almog said of the ASU Tango club performers.
ASU departments and organizations that provide services to international and study abroad students ran the tables and booths, which display cultural crafts, artifacts and information, Tomita said.
Although the festival consists of all types of students, Tomita said this is a great way for international students to showcase and educate others about their cultures.
This was the first year that the ASU Tango Club performed at the World Festival.
The club decided to perform at the festival to promote its Tango Festival in April and to show people what the Tango Club is all about, communications senior and club participant Ben Ren said.
Two of the club’s dancers performed the Argentine tango, a dance the group has been teaching ASU students for almost 10 years, club adviser Daniela Borgialli said.
“[The Argentine tango is] different than a lot of American-based dances and has such a broad historical journey that helps to add to the diversity on campus,” Borgialli said.
The club not only promotes the Argentine dance style but also encourages participation on campus, she said.
Film and media studies senior and Hawaii & Pacific Islanders Club participant Pua Pedrina said she enjoys what the festival brings to ASU.
“I love how many cultures it exposes to the students, Pedrina said. “It’s a good experience to have.”
The University has 3,413 international students from 128 countries around the world, and the festival helps to “celebrate the heritage and culture traditions” of these countries, Tomita said.
In future years, the festival hopes to expand and showcase many more countries and cultures, she said.
Reach the reporter at sophia.charchuk@asu.edu
