Celebrating diversity (Issue 20, 2009)
The Capoeira dancers during World Wide Week
This year multiculturalism was celebrated under a new name – the World Wide Week - to be more reflective of the cultures that gather in Australia and at La Trobe from all over the world.
For two days, the Bundoora campus was brought to live by engaging entertainment, artistic performances and free food stalls. This year, one of the highlights was the performance of the Capoeira dancers, who entertained the Agora crowd at lunch with their karate movements on the background of Brazilian music. The four skilful Capoeira demonstrators also played traditional Brazilian instruments assisted by volunteers from the public who played percussion instruments.
One of the events that got a great response was the pizza competition, in which students took a great interest and everyone gave it their best to be the winner.
The World Wide Week ended with the annual En Masse Dinner, this time with an interesting theme of tribal masquerade. All attendees proved to be very creative and showed up wearing masks, face paint and interesting outfits. Traditional outfits with Japanese or Chinese masks or students with their faces painted in a Maori Moko manner (traditional Maori face tattoo) were part of the costumes parade.
As happens every year, the dinner was packed with performances and games with attractive prizes, and ended up with students getting together on the dance floor.
The La Trobe International Students’ Association is a student organisation which aims to promote the interests of all international students enrolled in the University. For more information about the services and programs they organise, as well as how you can become a member, please visit the ISA website.
