An hour and a half may not seem like enough time to create a sense of cultural understanding, but tonight the Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars is holding a song-and-dance performance to do just that.
The Fowler Out Loud series and the Dashew Center are hosting their fourth annual cultural performance night, The Dashew Center Performs, featuring 10 domestic and international student acts performing songs and dances from countries such as Mexico, China, Nigeria and France.
Greg Sandoval, curator of public programs at the Fowler Museum, said the organizers anticipate anywhere from 300 to 400 students and faculty, a step up from last year’s attendance. The Dashew Center held auditions for around 25 different acts and narrowed the list down to the 10 who will showcase their talents.
Soraya Breton, a third-year film student, is one of the acts selected to be a part of the showcase.
Breton said the performances were chosen not only for the variation of acts but also for their geographical representation. She has sung French songs in the past and thought it would be appropriate to represent her parents and country. She will be performing “Hymne à l’amour” by Edith Piaf not only for its swing and mood, but also for its meaning. The song is about Piaf’s relationship with her lover, French boxer Marcel Cerdan. Breton said this song represents the passion and sensibilities inherent to her culture: love and longing.
“It’s a song about the power of love and how (Piaf) would do anything for (Cerdan), shortly after he died in a plane crash on his way going to see her,” Breton said. “At the very end, it’s about how they could find eternal love in death.”
Breton said the chance to perform is a dream come true and she knows once she is on stage, the nervousness will pass and her energy will follow.
“As international students, we were able to be part of one of UCLA’s events. Being able to perform for our friends on a stage at UCLA is really meaningful and powerful for me. It’s definitely something else I’m going to put on the list of things I did at UCLA,” Breton said.
French is just one of the languages that will be featured at the event. Jennie Weingarten, assistant director of programming at the Dashew Center, emphasized the fact that it is a rare occasion to get so many different ethnicities and backgrounds together in one place outside of a classroom.
Weingarten said this sort of an event allows for the education and appreciation of both the performers and the audience members, not just those who are involved in the production.
“It’s really a great opportunity to expose UCLA to the cultures that are here and the diversity that international students bring to the campus without ever having to leave the school. For those students who are not able to travel, it really benefits them to have this cultural exchange,” Weingarten said.