Friendship festival interweaves culture with fun

Stephanie Young/Senior Photographer ALL DRESSED UP: Tiara Gamulya, a senior in the School of Liberal Arts, helps Jennica Muliadi, a senior in the School of Liberal Arts, prepare to perform the Tari Golek, an Indonesian dance, at the International Friendship Festival Sunday.

By Yuri Victor
Staff Writer

Voluptuous bodies and shaking hips entertained spectators at the International Friendship Festival Saturday.

Showing off the Arabian art of belly dancing, the Oasis Dancers performed several times on stage including a performance with a lady who balanced a sword on her head and a group of small children who balanced batons.

"We wanted to show a different culture. Even though I'm American I can still show something from another part of the world and I think that is important," said Traci Kruer, a lab technician at Purdue and a member of the Oasis Dancers.

Some of the audience joined the entourage on stage by clapping and stomping their feet to the beat of the music. A few people even stood up from their seats and danced along.

The Friendship Festival had 14 different acts, beginning with a costume parade and ending with a demonstration by the tango club. The event showcased costumes, music, art, dancing and fighting from cultures around the world.

Elizabeth Risa, the Assistant Director of International Programs, said, "This is an opportunity to celebrate the diverse culture here at Purdue. We wanted to demonstrate an image of friendship among countries, a place to come together as friends."

Information booths were set up by various organizations that helped educate students about different parts of the world. Students were encouraged to learn by answering historical and geographical questions for raffles of T-shirts.

Brandon Hostetler, a senior in the School of Science, said, "It was very interesting. I had a good time and learned a lot."

With more than 200 people attending, Risa said she was happy with the turnout.

She said, "This is only one of the many events of International Awareness Week. This was the big event to open the week and the week will end with another big event — the International Food Bazaar."

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