ISO Show Promises Multicultural Thrills

On Saturday, Nov. 15, the International Student Organization (ISO) will host its annual Cultural Show in Wilson Hall. This year’s show includes over 15 different acts from at least five different regions of the world. It will be a mix of dances, songs, poetry and the much-anticipated fashion show.

The ISO, primarily funded by the SGA, is part of the parental cluster called Cultural Organizations. It is currently led by 3 co-presidents, Gabbie Santos ’17, Adara Wicaksono ’17 and Hiruy Ephrem ’17 and has a Publicity Committee, Community Service Committee and Social and Cultural Events Planning Committee.

The main purpose of the ISO is centered on the general ideas of proactively encouraging and acting for the integration of international students into the student body, embracing and showcasing diversity as a strength and a common resource that challenges students’ perceptions of the world, augmenting understanding of a variety of cultures in a fun and engaging way and working in synergy with other student organizations on campus. While the main purpose can be seen as being at the impact level, the outcome level is often defined by the current leaders and members of the organization. This year, the outcome objectives are neatly split into three – to incorporate discussions and reflections on-campus, to increase relevance of international students and to connect the ISO with the College through increased collaboration with other student organizations on campus.

Seen in this context, the ISO Cultural Show is a key event in exhibiting the diversity of the student body. The College has approximately 275 international students on campus representing over 70 different countries, and ISO membership includes domestic students, not just international students.

“The ISO Show is one of our biggest events, and it really becomes a platform for all of us to share in the celebration and appreciation of all cultures represented in the show,” Santos said.

This year’s theme for the show is “Crossing Borders.” The theme was chosen by popular vote after different students suggested different themes. The ISO explained the meaning of this theme on their Facebook page:

“Middlebury is home to a multitude of identities,” the co-presidents said. “Although each one is distinct and unique, we bridge diversity and our differences through a celebration of all cultures. We dance, we sing, we write. With each form of expression, we share a piece of ourselves with others.”

In preparation for the show, ISO members and performers have been busy getting things in order. After all, success usually follows when there is certainty of conviction, unity of motive and clearness of plan.

“Previously, the show was planned and executed through the ISO Show Committee, but this year we decided to approach it by involving the entire ISO general board,” Ephrem said. “This way, all members are able to input their ideas for the show and then we have a greater and more diverse merge of ideas. We had a competition to select themes, auditioned MCs and will be incorporating new decor to the venue.”

Performers have also been making the necessary preparations with great commitment.

“We have been holding rehearsals once a week in the beginning and twice a week in the past couple weeks,” performer Maddy Sanchez ’17 said. “I think we’ve been learning quite well. In the first practice no one knew what was going on and it was pretty frustrating, but now we all know what to do. It’s just getting it all to fit together.”

The show will include a number of pleasant surprises and there is a lot of optimism about its success.

“This year’s show will be great - from the breadth of cultures represented to DJ Mariam Khan coordinating our fashion show,” performer Jiaying Wu ’15 said. “I’m sure we’ll be having a fantastic show this year!”

There have been some challenges in preparing for the show among both performers and organizers.

“It seems that everyone is trying their best, however I do notice that there are some shaky things this year,” Sanchez said.

Some of the challenges could be construed as positive and providing a glimpse into different cultural nuances of art forms.

“As a dance group leader, one of the challenges I have faced in preparing for the show is trying to work with dancers from different cultural and dancing backgrounds, trying to teach them all a piece from a different culture, and having them performing it the way people from my country would,” said Cultural Events Planning Committee Chair Hamza Alsarhan ’17. “I have to explain what the lyrics of the song we are dancing to mean, so that my dancers are able to feel and understand the piece.”

The ISO Cultural Show has been very popular in the past to the extent that it has come to be the sole event associated with the ISO. The truth is that the ISO organizes several events and is active outside the college and in the community at large. In the past it has hosted and plans to continue hosting the International Symposium, cultural nights, community dinners, off-campus language tables, trivia nights and workshops on various topics.

“The ISO Symposium is the next big event for the organization, coming this Spring,” Santos said. “In January, we’ll be starting Language Tables for community members, and hopefully also offer more volunteer opportunities for our members. Our Social and Cultural Events Committee will also have more, smaller events in line.”

The show will be an evening of fun and celebration, and there is promise of music, dances and a fantastic fashion parade.

“I think that the theme of this year’s show pushes all participants in the show, as well as the audience, to feel the international community come together as one, to produce one great performance,” Alsarhan said.

Tickets are already available through the Box Office. As usual, the show will be split into two sections. The first section is a one-hour abridged version which starts at 5:30 p.m. to accommodate families with children and offers a glimpse of the full performance for other members of the community. The second, unabridged section starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets for the early show cost $3 for children under 12, $6 for students and $8 for the public. For the late show, the price raises to $7 for students but remains the same for children and the public.