The 2024 Multicultural Festival, a popular annual celebration of a multitude of cultures, was held on April 12. For months, the Multicultural Planning Committee, run by Activities and Club Liaison as well as French teacher Ms. Reier, has been working with clubs such as the South Asian Club, K-Pop Dance Club, Bollywood Dance Club, Black Student Union, and many more in order to prepare a variety of performances ranging from fashion shows to musical performances. Students were looking forward to seeing a continuation of the cultural appreciation shown last year.
Odetola performed at the Multicultural Festival as part of the K-Pop Dance Club. Last year, the club’s performances were fantastic and brilliantly eye-catching. The crowd loved it, and with the promise of an even better performance this year, many students could not wait until the day of the performances.
“Our performance will definitely be better this year. This year, our team has gotten better and stronger,” assured junior Peace Odetola.
K-Pop Dance Club was not the only club performing this year. Many other clubs, such as Bollywood Dance Club, South Asian Club, Black Student Union, and Muslim Student Association, put on a variety of displays. Ribbon dances, Kathak, and even a style of Chinese dance were on the agenda for the night. A steel drum performance was held, in addition to a fashion show and a Hispanic dance medley.
“I really enjoyed the Multicultural Festival this year. I think extending the food tables into the gym was a great idea, and the performances were better than ever,” described junior Anvita Pentakota.
Now a ticketed event, many students attended the Multicultural Festival for a fun time with friends. Students found that last year, the experience was worth it and hoped that this year would yield the same results. Many also found that the performance from Bollywood Dance Club exceeded expectations, and reasonably so. The club has been preparing their music and dances for months, resulting in a beautiful display of South Asian culture.
“I’m excited about seeing all the performances, the new set-up, and all the food,” reminisced Multicultural Planning Committee member, and junior Risha Basatwar.
The joy of experiencing different and flavorful foods was a highlight for many. The cafeteria hosted the International Food Hall, as described by Ms. Reier, and various clubs ran their own booths. Spanish Honor Society, Italian Club, Chinese Club, Korean Club, and others provided attendees with a wonderful assortment of cultural delicacies. In addition, clubs such as the African Student Association, Alpha Achievers, Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Rooted in Christ, and Scholars Leadership also held tables, allowing students to explore the cultures that their clubs represented.
“It makes me appreciate my culture more. It’s also very diverse and introduces me to new foods and art styles from different cultures,” explained junior Sanika Zarkar.
Unsurprisingly, the Multicultural Festival yielded many benefits to the MRHS community, from letting them speak freely about their own culture to discovering many other cultures. With each year, the festival seems to improve with the dedicated work of the Multicultural Planning Committee. In years to come, students can only hope that the Multicultural Festival remains the remarkable event that it currently is.