Public administration and public policy junior Meirgul Alpysbayeva, left, German studies graduate student Ekaterina Smirnova, center, and advertising graduate student Amina Lahbabi learn Egyptian belly dancing at the Cupid’s Crush dance Friday night in the Union Ballroom. Put on by the MSU International Students Association, the dance had performances and lessons by groups such as the India Club, Kazakh Students Association and the Greek Club.
Salsa, African and Caribbean calypso music resonated from the Union Ballroom on Friday as nine dance troupes and more than 250 people celebrated their culture and Valentine’s Day.
The International Students Association’s fifth annual Cupid’s Crush dance was not centered around salsa and swing routines as in previous years, said Shreelina Ghosh, ISA director of events.
“This is the first year it has been opened up to different types of international dances or cultural performances,” the rhetoric and writing graduate student said.
Ghosh said her idea to expand the event came from her 24 years as a performer.
“True dance creates conversation amongst international and national students,” she said.
Ghosh said she chose not to perform the Indian classical dance, which she has studied for more than two decades, at Cupid’s Crush because it is an individual dance and participants would not be able to join.
However, India Club was able to incorporate Indian culture by performing Bhangra, a traditional folk dance.
Kaustav Mukherjee, president of ISA, said adding more cultural dances and audience interaction to Cupid’s Crush is one reason the number of people who attended was higher than previous years.
“We should utilize and enjoy the beautiful community we have,” he said.
Participating dance troupes included break dancing by the Korean Student Association Modern Dance Team, Egyptian belly dancing by La Comunidad Latino-Americana and Chinese sleeve dancing by the Chinese Student Coalition.
The Greek Club, which isn’t a registered student organization and is made up of students from modern Greek language classes, performed five routines from different regions of Greece at Cupid’s Crush.
Andre Ahee, a no-preference freshman, said most of the Greek dancers, himself included, have been Greek dancing since they were young.
The Greek dancers, all dressed in black-and-white performance attire with royal blue sashes tied at their waists, were the first to perform at the event.
Their upbeat cultural steps had onlookers on their feet almost immediately.
“I have been in other groups before through my church, but this is the first time I have (danced) in a while,” Ahee said.
After performing their fifth and final dance Friday, the Greek Club invited everyone who wanted to learn the dance onto the dance floor.
“There is only a few steps, so most people just pick it up as they go along,” Ahee said.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
