Unifying the World One Dance at a Time
By Jillian Beaster
What started as a small support group of international students has evolved into a thriving organization that highlights the diverse cultures of Lake Forest College (LFC) students.
LFC’s International Student Association (ISA) is a cultural and community-based club that aims to uplift and support its members through events, fundraisers and collaboration. One World: A Cultural Journey, ISA’s largest event of the year, will showcase art, dance and music at the Gorton Center in Lake Forest Nov. 10-11.
“It is such a beautiful event, and there is always such a rich set of performances,” says Beatriz Neves about One World.
“With so many complex things going on in the world, it is nice to see how people celebrate their culture,” said Isabella Carrasquero, a junior from Venezuela and ISA co-president. “Maybe in this way [people] can see through the news, see through the stereotypes, and look at the beauty that every culture has.”
This year’s One World program is ISA’s third annual production; ISA itself has only entered its fourth year on LFC campus. Enzo Aravena Maguida, the other ISA co-president who is a senior from Chile, recalls that when he was a freshman, “[ISA] didn’t even exist.”
According to Aravena Maguida, ISA was born after a group of international students noticed extra financial strain on international students due to unique barriers, such as trouble accessing an American SIM card to connect to a cellular network and a lack of transportation. While Lake Forest College offers a Student Emergency Fund to those struggling with financial obstacles, Aravena Maguida found that “since many international students need extra support … we wanted to make a fundraising event to try and raise more money.”
One World not only serves as a fundraiser but also provides international students with a space to express their culture and an opportunity for domestic students, staff, faculty and community members to experience forms of art they may not have known.
“One World is a time where people from so many different parts of the world show one thing that they’re really proud of from their culture,” Carrasquero said. “Sometimes people perform something that is not related to their culture, but to support a friend from somewhere else. For example, I’m in the dance group for United Asia…so you're also seeing people from so many different backgrounds come together united.”
Paul Wolters, a senior from the Netherlands, and Beatriz Neves, a senior from Portugal, are both in multiple performances. Wolters, co-captain of LFC’s Dance Crew, will perform with Dance Crew, United Asia and Japanese Club. Similarly, Neves will represent Dance Crew and Japanese Club.
“I’m not necessarily representing Dutch culture, but I get to participate in representing different cultures, so I’m being introduced to more things,” Wolters said. “At One World, Dance Crew chooses to represent as international, and we try to do as many different styles as possible since we have so many international students.”
“It is such a beautiful event, and there is always such a rich set of performances,” Neves said. “I’m so excited to dance with Japanese Club…and to see friends and students performing.”
The decision to hold the event at the Gorton Center’s John & Nancy Hughes Theater for the third year in a row was intentional, as ISA wanted One World to be available to everyone in the community.
Amy Wagliardo, executive director of the Gorton Center, seeks to uphold the Center’s mission of being the “gathering place in the heart of the community.”
“I know the college tries to figure out how to get community members on campus…and holding the event at the Gorton Center removes a lot of barriers,” Wagliardo said. “The location makes it more accessible for the Lake Forest community to participate.”
One World has enjoyed increased support from the college during its tenure.
“We have a lot more credibility with the school and the community (today)…this year we focused more on promoting the event with faculty, which resulted in a lot more LFC support,” Carrasquero said. “We have more support from departments on campus than ever before.”
The show will be open to LFC staff, faculty and Lake Forest community members on Nov. 10 from 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m., and the next evening will primarily be for students.
