Culture X performances will let the imagination wander

Intercultural Center show brings together song, dance and speech from many areas

Photos/Mike Lovett

A scene from last year's Culture X show

The Intercultural Center's eleventh annual Culture X variety show this year is themed "Up Up and Away." Divya Kanneganti '11, one of four co-chairs, says that is because "this year's show is about letting the imagination wander and breaking free."

The show celebrates diversity through the visual and performing arts in an exploration of music, movement and media. It will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9, in Levin Ballroom. Student fundraising efforts will benefit humanitarian initiatives in Japan and Tibet.

Free tickets may be picked up at the Shapiro Campus Center Box Office through Friday, April 8. The show will be live-streamed.

"Culture X is so unique and different because it's not just about one club," Kanneganti explains. "We create a performance including the entire campus, and it's incredibly moving."

Culture X is open to the entire Brandeis community and fully funded by the Intercultural Center (ICC). Pieces range from dance to music to spoken word.

Clubs participating include: South East Asian Society (SEAC), Kaos Kids, Belly Dance Ensemble, Voices of Soul, So Unique Step Team, Brandeis Swingers, Adagio Dance Company, Salseros, Black Students Organization (BSO), Hooked On Tap, Cheerleading Squad, Russian Club, Japanese Students Association (JSA), VOCAL, Brandeis American Asian Students Association (BAASA), AHORA, South Asian Students Association (SASA), and Korean Students Association (KSA).

The four co-chairs are all involved in cultural activities throughout campus. Kanneganti and Akash Vadalia '12 were co-presidents of SASA last year; Karen Hu ‘11 and Ann-Nin Wong '11 were co-presidents of Brandeis Chinese Cultural Connection (BC3) from 2009 to 2010. Wong is a co-chair of the ICC  programming board, and Hu is an ICC staff member.

Two of the coordinators are also involved in the performance: Vadalia is performing with Kaos Kids and Hu is in BAASA's piece.

There is a "diverse group of performances, my expertise comes in with designing the backdrop," says Kanneganti, explaining that this is the first year that Culture X co-chairs will create the backdrop.

Students for Tibet, a newly chartered club and worldwide organization, will table at the entrance doors before the show and during intermission. The club's purpose is to raise awareness of Tibet and bridge the gap between Chinese and Tibetan students. The club will sell T-shirts to raise money for orphans in schools near the Tibetan border. Last year, Culture X worked with the Brandeis Haiti Initiative.

The ICC, Campus Center Team, AHORA and Student Events are sponsoring the ‘90s Glow Rave official after-party in Sherman Function Hall as part of Bronstein Week. Japan Relief, a recently formed, unofficial club and other co-sponsors are continuing to organize relief efforts with a suggested donation of $5 at the door with funds directed to the disaster in Japan. 

Culture X, a reference to the generational moniker, began as an opportunity for all clubs under the ICC's umbrella to work together in a show that would incorporate all their unique, cultural backgrounds.

Check out upcoming events at the ICC.