A celebration center stage: “Beyond Our Silhouettes” on April 26 invited students to express their cultural experiences and intersectional identities. / Photo by Francis Tatem
‘Beyond Our Silhouettes’ Marks a Night of Community, Vibrance, and Celebration
On April 26, the second annual Cultural Night Showcase put center stage students scores of student performers. They came to express their cultural experiences and identities in a way that breaks stereotypes and presents themselves authentically.
In a vibrant celebration of diversity and authenticity, scores of Saint Mary’s students took center stage on April 26 for the “Beyond Our Silhouettes,” the second annual SMC Cultural Night Showcase. Hosted by the Intercultural Center, for the event student performers were invited to express their cultural experiences and intersectional identities. The evening featured 21 captivating sets with over 85 performers and served as a testament to the vibrance of the college community's cultural tapestry.
The them of “Beyond Our Silhouettes” symbolizes reclaiming identity and being in community, allowing individuals to shine in their true essence and share their stories with pride. The showcase was planned by the four student Cultural Event Coordinators (CECs) of the Intercultural Center with the goal of providing a platform for students to break free from societal stereotypes and present themselves authentically.
Attendees were treated to a selction of foods from around the world courtesy a variety of food trucks. Then more than 400 people in attendance were treated to a diverse array of performances, including soul-stirring singing, mesmerizing dancing, poignant spoken-word pieces, and concluding with an electrifying fashion show. Each act served as an expression of personal journeys, highlighting the intricate layers of identity and heritage that make up the fabric of the college community.
That included a grounding meditation and West African dance, poetry and Hindi songs, dancing by Balle Folklorico Guadalupano and a romantic ballad from Puerto Rico, stand-up comedy and drag performance, performance embracing identity as a multiracial Black woman—and much more. The fashion show featured some two dozen students, with clothing that tapped into identities from North India to Mexico, from the Philippines to Palestine. There were variations on traditional embroidery and students rocking Chicana streetwear.
Learning and Teaching
For the performers, being onstage was an opportunity to show audience members something new. It was also, for many, an opportunity to learn themselves—and to develop a greater depth of understanding and appreciation of the cultural dimensions at play in their art.
Ysabelle DeLaCruz ’24 choreographed the set for “Tinikling,” a traditional dance in the Philippines, featuring nearly 20 dancers. “With creating my set for cultural night, I wanted to showcase the importance of my Filipino culture through dance,” she says. “I did this through learning and teaching the history of the dance to those who participated, which is ultimately what brought my vision to life.” DeLaCruz is part of the Asian Pacific Student Association (APASA), and she graduates this spring with a degree in Biology; she has also served as a Student Ambassador introducing SMC to prospective and transfer students.
Reeya Dharmadhikari ’25 sang in two of the sets, “O Sajana,” a semi-classical Hindi song featured in a 1960 Bollywood production, and a duet “Khuda Jaane,” a Hindi song from the 2008 Bollywood film Bachna Ae Haseeno (“Watch Out, Beauties”) with the president of Southern Asian Society (SAS), Advait Powdwal '24. “The Cultural Night Showcase is extremely important to me and the other students that participate in it because it provides a space to be our unapologetic selves and show people how rich and beautiful our cultures are,” Dharmadhikari says. “It also hopefully invites them to gain a deeper interest in our community, and not just for the food. It's not just a talent show, but a chance to express ourselves.“
Dharmadhikari is also involved with Southern Asian Society and a Resident Advisor of a townhouse. Dharmadhikari performed earlier this spring as part of the spring vocal recital series. When it comes to Cultural Showcase, Dharmadhikari hopes to see it grow and thrive. “The Soda Center was completely packed, so I hope everyone who came understood who vital it is to have a night like this and advocates to have more resources for it.”
The Cultural Showcase takes place in April, which is Arab American Heritage Month. Students from the Middle Eastern Northern African Club (MENA) performed the Dabke, which is danced on joyous occasions in Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. In 2023, UNESCO included the dance on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Traditional Middle Eastern dress was also part of the heritage on display in the concluding fashion show, including Adriana Nasar ’27 in an embroidered Palestinian Thobe and Vanessa Al Nader wearing a Syrian Jalibiya. (See the photo gallery below.)
A Celebration of Unity and Empowerment
The showcase was meant to be more than just a display of talent, and on this it delivered; it was a celebration of unity and empowerment.
“The purpose of this showcase is to celebrate, with each other, our multifaceted cultures and identities,” says Ella Del Fiorentino ’25, who serves as one of the Intercultural Center’s Cultural Event Coordinators (CEC).
In addition, says fellow CEC Gaby Canedo ’27, "Rather than remaining within the molds we’ve been assigned, the Cultural Night Showcase allows us to take control of our narratives and display ourselves through a new perspective."
The choice of the theme resonated with performers and audience members alike. "We chose 'Beyond Our Silhouettes' to share the beauty of shining as one’s authentic self under the same sun in community with one another," says CEC Amana Williams ’25. Indeed, the evening served as a powerful reminder of the importance of embracing not only individuality, but also that shared commitment to one another.
As the night drew to a close, there was an overwhelming sense of love and solidarity. Guests left the event inspired and uplifted, having witnessed firsthand the transformative power of this joyous celebration.
By providing a “platform to shine beyond the cookie cutter image that society tries to hold us to,” as CEC Clarice Reinwald ’26 puts it, this evening and the broader work of the Intercultural Center play an important role in nurturing a campus environment that acknowledges the student community on campus that is unique beyond the silhouettes.
Samantha Alberto is Interim Director of SMC's Intercultural Center. Write her.
Story updated May 6, 2024, at 12 p.m. Pacific
Photo Gallery: Beyond Our Silhouettes
