By Manha Masood
The world is rich with different kinds of traditions, languages, and customs. Among them, dance is a powerful bridge connecting us all. The Unity in Diversity Club embraces this universal art form as a way to break down cultural barriers and bring people together in a celebration of shared humanity, through the rhythms and movements of dances from around the globe.
As we settle into the school year, various clubs like Unity in Diversity begin to establish themselves. This club emphasizes community themes, with groups from many countries mastering and excelling in dances that emulate and celebrate the diverse and distinct cultures of places around the world. Fan favorites include K-Pop from Korea, Bhangra from India/Bollywood, as well as many others including Vietnam, Afro-Caribbean, France, Mexico, etc.
Unity never fails to amaze with the immense impact it has on people. It’s a breath of fresh air to feel recognized and witness other people celebrating songs and dances that are part of their cultural roots. This club takes pride in its ability to embrace everyone’s culture. This includes not only dance, but also cuisines and traditions. For example, during Taste of East, bake sales and Henna are offered.
Members of the club get more than just some new dance moves from participating. The club provides an opportunity to interact with people and learn about global cultures. Dancing together creates a sense of familiarity and warmth that goes beyond the barriers of language and culture. “Being a part of Unity has given me such an amazing community to share my love and enthusiasm for Bhangra. Teaching such an excited group of people wanting to learn a dance from my cultural roots has to be the most rewarding part,” stated Chand Kodial, who’s the group leader of Bhangra. She’s a junior at East and is a second-year returnee at Unity. Kodial originally started the group of Bhangra with her sister Tara. The group was responsible for the energetic upbeat audience from the Unity showcase last February. Every year, students like the Kodials bring the necessary change and encourage others to embrace their culture while teaching it to others. They are contributing to the ever-growing community and family at Unity in Diversity.
This club was founded with the sole purpose of bringing people together and promoting inclusivity and mutual respect through the art of dance from other cultures. This has been a repeating objective for over 30 years, beginning in 1994 with a small group of students who founded the club as a passion project. It has since grown to become one of the largest and most participated clubs in East history.
Currently, Unity is in its early stages of planning as we are headed towards selecting club officers and group leaders for each country. The most optimal and best time to join is right now. Feel free to reach out to the co-advisors of the club, Mrs. Korn and Mr. Huber, for any further questions. Follow the Instagram @wehs_unity or listen to the announcements for club information coming your way. Unity is looking forward to seeing new and returning faces. GO FLAMES!!