International club hosts Pangea Multicultural Show
Written by Tim Davis, Staff Writer | 
With dancing, improvisation routines, comedy, music, and educational material, “Pangea” was a multicultural experience.
The show, held Wednesday in the Reeves Auditorium, was sponsored by the Methodist University International Club. The theme of the show was that all people, of all backgrounds, make meaningful contributions to the world and global culture.
“We are all in this one big world,” said Jose Pablo Salas-Rojas, president of the International Club.
“Regardless of our ethnicity, sex, or religion, our world gets affected equally. That’s the idea of Pangea.”
The show began with a moving skit about the oppression found throughout the world. Whether by religion, colonization, or slavery, much of the world combats oppression in many forms.
“Considering the school’s mission to promote diversity, this was an effective program,” Phila Sifundza, freshman international student. “It is important for students to understand the perspective of students from other nations.”
The curtain then opened to reveal a parade of flags, drawing applause and cheers from the audience.In their “Trip Around the World” skit, SGA President Thomas Hutton and SGA Senator Anthony Liuzza began the trek across the globe.
Pangea consisted of cultural performances from the United States, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Some of the acts included singing, hula dancing, a salsa routine, spoken word, instrumental arrangements. Audience members responded well to the Gumboot dance performance, an intense dance that combines stepping with large rubber boots. Students also enjoyed the more colorful Bollywood dance to “Ma Hi Vee.”
Although Pangea was entertaining, it was also used as a tool to inform students about worldwide efforts to support peace and human welfare. One of these segments featured Micheal Jackson’s “Heal the World.” As the song played, slides of war and poverty contrasted with ones showing images of peace and hope.
As the show ended, the cast joined together to educate the audience about worldwide statistics about birth and death rates, as well as carbon dioxide emissions. The cast urged the audience to ask themselves what they can do to impact the world in a positive way.
“Its important to learn about cultures other than your own,” said Hayley Williams, a freshman elementary education major. “ Its good to keep an open mind so you can have a better understanding of different cultures.”
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