i2i cultural celebration on Nov. 21 will be grand finale of International Education Week
The International Student Organization will present the annual show featuring music, dance, and fashion from around the world.
The community will have the opportunity to learn about cultures of the world as the International Student Organization (ISO) (visit the ISO's homepage) and the Intercultural Center presents i2i on Friday, November 21. The annual celebration begins at 8 p.m. in the MAC.
Tickets will be sold from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Koffler Rotunda and Friday in the Bryant Center. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for all others in advance, or $5 and $7, respectively, at the door.
The theme of this year's production is "Wizard of Bryant." The audience will travel with Dorothy as she meets Scarecrow, Bulldog, and Tin Man as they follow the yellow brick road to find their way to the Wizard. Along the way, Dorothy and her friends encounter people from different countries and escape from the Wicked Witch of the West.
The event highlights the uniqueness of international populations through fashion, music, and dance. More than 175 students, the largest i2i cast ever, spent about three months preparing for the finale to International Education Week at Bryant.
Performers will depict scenes set in Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Cuba, France, Greece, India, Italy, Peru, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
"I hope that the audience sees why it is important to learn about diversity and the many beautiful cultures to explore in the world," says Sasha Batista '09 (Providence, RI), an i2i cochair.
"Our goal is that everyone leaves with the knowledge that while the world is full of people with different cultural backgrounds, we have many more similarities than differences," adds Jordan Brown '12 (Kingston, Jamaica), a scene leader for Trinidad and Tobago.
Global mindset
For the third time, Pia Shivdasani '10 (Bombay, India) will codirect the scene about her home country. The presentation will depict the Indian festival of Navratri through traditional dance. A slideshow will also teach the audience about India's tourists sights, food, and dress.
"I encourage students to get to know people from different countries because they will see that they have a lot in common," says Shivdasani.
Victoria Castaneda '12 (Tracy, CA) is involved in i2i for the first time as one of the scene leaders for Peru, the country her family is from. She will also be a dancer in the presentation on Puerto Rico.
"I love immersing myself in different cultures," she says. "When I heard about i2i, I knew I wanted to be involved."
Another first timer, Jahaira Negron '12 (Pelham, NH), shares a passion for learning about customs and traditions from around the world. She will help lead the presentation on Puerto Rico that will include traditional dances like the bomba, plena, and bolero.
"The show will help students become more aware of how diverse the world really is," she says.
Sloane Tabisel '09 (Plainview, NY) has been coming to i2i since her first year at Bryant, but this is her first year as a participant.
"You always learn something new each year you attend," she says.
Cultural immersion
Maria Musarskaya '09 (Nahodka, Russia) has made friends and learned about many different cultures through her participation in i2i over the last four years. This year she is a cochair of the entire production.
"After watching i2i, the Bryant community will be even more enthusiastic about exploring different countries and cultures," she says.
Andrea Sanchez '09 (Shelton, CT) took a one-year hiatus from i2i last year when she was studying in Spain. This year, she returns to reach a goal she set during her first year at Bryant: to be a cochair for the event.
"I hope students come with an open mind and learn about the variety of cultures and traditions that are represented at Bryant," she says.
Perhaps Jason Dodier '09 (Cranston, RI), another four-year i2i participant who will help lead the scene on Greece, sums up the extraordinary night best.
"After you witness i2i, you will realize that Barnum & Bailey is not the greatest show on earth," he says.
Tickets will be sold from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Koffler Rotunda and Friday in the Bryant Center. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for all others in advance, or $5 and $7, respectively, at the door.
The theme of this year's production is "Wizard of Bryant." The audience will travel with Dorothy as she meets Scarecrow, Bulldog, and Tin Man as they follow the yellow brick road to find their way to the Wizard. Along the way, Dorothy and her friends encounter people from different countries and escape from the Wicked Witch of the West.
The event highlights the uniqueness of international populations through fashion, music, and dance. More than 175 students, the largest i2i cast ever, spent about three months preparing for the finale to International Education Week at Bryant.
Performers will depict scenes set in Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Cuba, France, Greece, India, Italy, Peru, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
"I hope that the audience sees why it is important to learn about diversity and the many beautiful cultures to explore in the world," says Sasha Batista '09 (Providence, RI), an i2i cochair.
"Our goal is that everyone leaves with the knowledge that while the world is full of people with different cultural backgrounds, we have many more similarities than differences," adds Jordan Brown '12 (Kingston, Jamaica), a scene leader for Trinidad and Tobago.
Global mindset
For the third time, Pia Shivdasani '10 (Bombay, India) will codirect the scene about her home country. The presentation will depict the Indian festival of Navratri through traditional dance. A slideshow will also teach the audience about India's tourists sights, food, and dress.
"I encourage students to get to know people from different countries because they will see that they have a lot in common," says Shivdasani.
Victoria Castaneda '12 (Tracy, CA) is involved in i2i for the first time as one of the scene leaders for Peru, the country her family is from. She will also be a dancer in the presentation on Puerto Rico.
"I love immersing myself in different cultures," she says. "When I heard about i2i, I knew I wanted to be involved."
Another first timer, Jahaira Negron '12 (Pelham, NH), shares a passion for learning about customs and traditions from around the world. She will help lead the presentation on Puerto Rico that will include traditional dances like the bomba, plena, and bolero.
"The show will help students become more aware of how diverse the world really is," she says.
Sloane Tabisel '09 (Plainview, NY) has been coming to i2i since her first year at Bryant, but this is her first year as a participant.
"You always learn something new each year you attend," she says.
Cultural immersion
Maria Musarskaya '09 (Nahodka, Russia) has made friends and learned about many different cultures through her participation in i2i over the last four years. This year she is a cochair of the entire production.
"After watching i2i, the Bryant community will be even more enthusiastic about exploring different countries and cultures," she says.
Andrea Sanchez '09 (Shelton, CT) took a one-year hiatus from i2i last year when she was studying in Spain. This year, she returns to reach a goal she set during her first year at Bryant: to be a cochair for the event.
"I hope students come with an open mind and learn about the variety of cultures and traditions that are represented at Bryant," she says.
Perhaps Jason Dodier '09 (Cranston, RI), another four-year i2i participant who will help lead the scene on Greece, sums up the extraordinary night best.
"After you witness i2i, you will realize that Barnum & Bailey is not the greatest show on earth," he says.
