By: James Cirrone
The University of Maryland Global Communities Student Association hosted the Cultural Explosion on Wednesday, an annual event dedicated to bringing people of all cultures and talents together for one unique show.
Two different a cappella groups, a magician, a stand-up comedian, the Swing Dance Club at UMD, the Hip-Hop Orchestra, and the Maryland Latin Dance Club performed under the same roof.
The diversity of culture and talent was exemplified by Terpwushu, a Chinese martial arts performance club that captivated the audience with their unique and striking performance. They took advantage of the entire stage, doing breathtaking flips and kicks and whooshing their long, wooden staffs just feet from audience members.
Francis Poon, secretary of the Terpwushu club and a sophomore computer science major, explained how crucial events like the Cultural Explosion are for minority students.
“I think it’s definitely something nice just so everyone feels included in the social environment…It’s nice to see an event like this,” Poon said.
There was also a feeling among people at the Cultural Explosion that events like it are a good way to chip away at preconceived notions about people different from them.
Lawrence Guloy, a senior aerospace engineering major, expressed how the Cultural Explosion was a breath of fresh air in how it brought together all different people who on a normal day don’t come close to interacting with one another.
“[It’s] really interesting to see all these other cultures…mix together and see…different similarities and…realizing ‘oh hey that culture isn’t so different from mine’,” Guloy said.
Another group that stunned event-goers was Ganji, a Korean pop dance group. One of the most racially diverse groups of the night, Ganji’s tight, well-choreographed dance routines showcased the talent of all members.
Ganji member Wileen Tam, a senior information sciences and theatre major, talked about how cultural diversity and diversity of talent are inextricably linked.
“Talents and culture go hand in hand because there are talents based on the culture that you’re from, but…you can’t exactly separate say ‘oh we should have more talent’ or ‘we should have more culture.’ They’re…intertwined,” Tam said.
Audience members were impressed and wowed by the variety and expertise of the performances.
John Wright, a freshman computer science major, stayed until 9 p.m. and proclaimed that Ganji was one of his favorite acts. He shared Tam’s sentiment that culture and talent are intertwined, saying that he thinks “culture shapes talents and values.”