Multicultural Week Composed of Delightful Food and Performances

Photo from Kelly Orozco Hernandez | Multi participants get ready to perform the Unity Dance.

One of the most favorite events of John F. Kennedy just took place, bringing along fun, food, and many dance performances. Multicultural week took place at JFK during Feb. 23 to Feb. 27th, when different cultures and ethnicities were represented and celebrated throughout the whole school.

This week had many different parts such as the food sales, after school dance performances, and the Multicultural Rally.

With dedication and discipline, 16 different preformative clubs started practices and rehearsals more than a month prior to the week. All performances were done four times, twice after school, when parents, guardians, relatives and all were invited to come watch, and twice during the rally, so all the students could watch and cheer on their fellow classmates. To end all performances, all the clubs got together and everyone performed together, known as the Unity Dance.

While some clubs performed, others were ready to take the chance and display food of unique cultures for everyone to enjoy. Many other clubs sold food from Feb. 24 to Feb. 26 in the cafeteria, all raising money for clubs.

All were welcomed to participate in this week, whether it be students new to the school, or whether it be students who have their last year here at JFK. Everyone did something of their own, whether it be performing, selling, buying, or just enjoying the over time.

When Ria Dube (9) is interviewed about her experience performing during multicultural week, she states, “Overall, it was a very fun experience.”

Dube performed in five different club performances, which were Dhamaka, Creators, Korean, Desi and Vietnamese Students Association (commonly known as VSA).

While enjoying performing in front of her peers, Dube expresses how stressful it could be managing all the practices, as well as changing into different attire for all the different clubs.

“I think multi was very fun, but in the moment it was very stressful, especially those last four clubs I named [Creators, Korean, Desi, VSA].” She also revealed, ”They were all back to back performances and then it was the Unity Dance after that, so it was very stressful to change.”

Despite it being stressful, she will be performing again next year, and plans on joining more clubs.

“I really liked it [performing],” Shreya Manke (9), who performed in Bhangra stated. “It’s something of my culture, it was really fun to do, since I’ve never really done a school event.”

Manke shared how this was her first time performing in a school activity, and felt conflicting emotions, but in the end really enjoyed it.

“I felt really nervous at first, because it was my first time performing, I felt like I was going to fall down.”

Multicultural week at JFK is the time to represent different cultures through food, dance and dressing. Everyone in the school is involved in some activity, whether it be performing, cheering your peers on, or just exploring different cultures through their food.