By Darshini Dayanidhi & Snigdha Chakravarti
It’s that magical, high-energy time of year again, when the halls feel a little louder, the music a little bolder, and the countdown to the Unity show officially begins. The show we all wait for, the one that turns our stage into a global spotlight, is almost here. From colorful costumes to powerful beats and choreography inspired by cultures from around the world, the Unity show is more than just a performance. It is a celebration of identity, creativity, and connection, and this year, the excitement is bigger than ever.
From the fast-paced, energetic dances in Bollywood and K-pop to the poised, fluid movements of China’s contemporary dance and Singapore’s dance, the 2026 Unity in Diversity will showcase a wide range of countries and cultures present at East’s diverse and unique student body. Over 15 different countries will be represented at this year’s show, and within many of the countries, several aspects of their culture will be exhibited. For example, India, one of Unity’s largest groups, includes 5 different small groups: Bhangra, Bollywood, South India, Bharatnatyam, and a dance duet. The US has 3 different groups: an American jazz band, musical theatre (“One Day More” from Les Miserables), and a dance from the recent global sensation, Katseye . Some of the other countries include Palestine, Spain, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Iceland, Nigeria, and France, each of which brings its elements through show-stopping performances.
Mr. Huber and Mrs. Korn have been the advisors of Unity in Diversity for the last several years. For them, the club is a symbol of unity because of its diversity, allowing students to appreciate their differences while realizing how similar they really are. Mr. Huber emphasized the fact that Unity in Diversity isn’t just any club; it’s the “soul of the school,” being a defining part of East, just like its lack of walls. Within the club, Mr. Huber explained how one of his favorite moments is the timeline of all the moments prior to the final show. “Problem solving together, the rush of perfection, and the laughter while trying to figure it out. That’s my favorite part,” he added. Mr. Huber went on to remark how the students in Unity are pretty much just “dialed in” all the time. The coordination, learning, practice, and responsibility that go into all still intrigue him, despite having advised the club for 20 years. Furthermore, each year brings in new acts that add to the growing cultural horizon of the club. This year is no different; this year, there will be more live performances and a big chorus singing from a musical. Mr. Huber added that there will also be a workshop for students (since there are 2 assemblies for Unity) to learn about the purpose of Unity in Diversity in promoting cultural awareness and growth at our school and community.
Behind the scenes, rehearsals are filled with laughter, inside jokes, and nonstop movement. Students rush from practice to practice, perfecting steps and hyping each other up along the way. For many, Unity has become a second home. Senior Selena Han, who is dancing in the Singapore group, says the energy in the club this year is especially electric. “Everyone in the club this year is so excited for this year’s show; we have worked really hard,” she shared. She describes meetings as both productive and fun, where students get to bond, talk with friends, and enjoy one very popular perk. “Jessica Dennehy bakes amazing cookies,” she added. Selena also encourages more students to join, pointing out that Unity is a place to learn about different cultures through dance, build teamwork skills, and even boost college applications by showing openness and collaboration.
For senior Christina Le, who is performing in the Vietnam group, the Unity experience goes far beyond just learning choreography. One of her favorite moments happens during dress rehearsals, when the entire show starts to feel real. She loves “getting to roam around watching performances with friends” and “showing each other our dance moves.” To Christina, Unity represents something deeper than just dance. “Unity means sharing in our diverse or shared experiences and cultures while also putting those differences aside before judging each other harshly,” she explained, capturing the heart of what the show stands for.
Some students take on the challenge of performing in multiple groups, and Jeebahy Prabaharan is one of them. This year, she is dancing in the American Jazz, K-pop, Spain, South India, and Sri Lanka groups, a true tour of the world in one night. Despite the busy schedule, she says the meetings are something she genuinely looks forward to. “It honestly feels like just hanging out with your friends,” she said. For Jeebahy, Unity is the perfect mix of cultural exploration, creativity, and movement. She describes it as a space where students can organize passion projects, learn specific choreographies they love, and get a fun workout without even realizing it.
Another familiar face helping keep everything running smoothly is Unity in Diversity’s secretary, Sanjana Suresh. This year, she is performing in South India, Sri Lanka, and K-pop groups. She’s even doing a solo! Her favorite moments come during the tech rehearsals in the days leading up to the show. “I can see all the other groups doing their thing, and even though it’s pretty hectic, we all just have fun together,” she shared. Sanjana also plays a major role behind the scenes, writing morning announcements, creating posters for upcoming checkpoints, acting as a bridge between group leaders and officers, and maintaining Unity’s Instagram page. For her, Unity goes far beyond the stage. “It allows me to celebrate my own culture through dance and allows me to learn about all the other traditions and dances around the world,” she said.
Vice President Talula Enis is also a part of several different groups this year, including Mexico, France, Bollywood, and Singapore. Her favorite part of Unity is the time spent practicing with friends and building wonderful memories and relationships along the way. “Unity means an opportunity to experience my peers’ cultures in a really fun way,” she shared, highlighting how the club brings people closer through shared effort and celebration.
For senior Yalin Chang, Unity has been both exciting and fun as well as challenging, considering the amount of practice and dedication required to learn several acts. Yalin is in Iceland, Singapore, and Bhangra, each of which has a unique spirit. While Bhangra brims with energy and enthusiasm through show-stopping moves, Singapore brings on a more tranquil atmosphere through elegant and graceful movements. For Iceland, Yalin plans to sing a song from pop and jazz icon Laufey, mentioning how this particular act strayed away from the dance-only acts she usually does. Yalin remarked how Unity is a very special club here at East through its distinctive, student-led groups that “come together in the end like a giant web” for the final performance. Additionally, being able to do some of these groups with friends provides an even more memorable experience. “Honestly, Unity with friends is probably the best because you can create groups with them, and it’s an opportunity to share your guys’ interests with the school,” Yalin said. Above all, she added how Unity’s annual show isn’t just an ordinary performance: it is an homage to a variety of cultures and nationalities in East’s diverse student body.
Many members of Unity were inspired to join the club after seeing the show, like junior Khloe Rivera, who has been a member of Unity since her sophomore year. “I remember during freshman year when I watched my friend participate in unity. I was sitting in the audience and thinking to myself, ‘Dang, I should’ve joined; I feel like I’m missing out on so much! ’” she remarked. Khloe started and leads the Philippine group, which hasn’t had a leader in prior years; she is also in the Nigeria and Hispanic pop groups. Through her experience in Unity, Khloe expressed excitement about being able to understand and value many unique cultures through their respective dances.
Another such member of Unity who was inspired to join after being amazed by the annual show is Vivian Huang, who is also the club’s current treasurer. As a senior, Vivian explained how she wanted to be in as many groups as possible: China, South India, Korea, Iceland, and Sri Lanka! For her, Unity presented an opportunity to “explore and experience the diversity at East,” and because of this, she was able to make “so many of her closest friends.” Vivian highlighted how one of the best parts is when the full show comes together at the end. “It’s really satisfying to see all the hard work you put into learning and practicing the dances pay off,” she said. Oh, and of course, like many others in the club, Vivian looks forward to the pizza and Capri-Suns at each dress rehearsal!
Junior Michelle Huang has been a member of Unity since freshman year. Taking part in Sri Lanka, South India, and Vietnam and co-leading China, Michelle values the supportive and welcoming environment of the club, especially when people cheer each other on during the dress rehearsal. “It’s a chance to hang out with friends and dance in a different style than what you might be used to,” she added. Similarly, for sophomore Abby Gunawan, meeting people with “similar interests and laughing together while learning dances” creates this inviting atmosphere that truly defines the club.
As the Unity show draws closer, anticipation continues to build around the first half of the night. Costumes are being finalized, playlists are on repeat, and every rehearsal adds another layer of excitement to what will soon unfold on stage. The show takes place on February 11th this year; mark the date in your calendars so you can come in and show your support for all the hardworking performers. GO FLAMES!