More than 120 students from around the world will share the richness of their diverse heritage April 7-8 in two family-friendly performances of Lawrence University’s 42nd annual International Cabaret.
Representing more than 30 countries, Lawrence students showcase their native cultures through dance, music and fashion in performances Saturday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 9 at 3 p.m. in Stansbury Theatre of the Music-Drama Center. A free reception follows Sunday’s performance in the Warch Campus Center.
This year’s theme for Cabaret, “The Realm of Unity: United in our Difference.”
Tickets, at $10 for adults, $5 for students/children (age four and under are free), are available through the Lawrence Box Office, 920-832-6749. In addition to its normal hours, the box office will be open one hour prior to Sunday’s performance.
Junior Binita Rajbhandari, president of the student organization Lawrence International, which organizes the annual Cabaret, says it is the students’ differences that actually unite them.
“The world sires a myriad of cultures,” said Rajbhandari. “We are from different backgrounds and are all different, yet we are all the same in this regard. Lawrence International believes that, while we are diverse, we should also be united because of our differences. Cabaret is possible because of our differences in backgrounds, strengths and roles.
Rajbhandari calls Cabaret “a must-see event.”
“Students put an enormous amount of work into this in order to share their cultures with others,” she said. “It’s surreal to see how much dedication each student has to share their culture and at the same time learn something about a new culture.”
This year’s Cabaret features 15 acts and two fashion shows of colorful, traditional dress. Among the performances will be a traditional Greek folklore dance, an acoustic rendition of a modern Nepalese rock song, a Mariachi band, a Croatian song, a Jordanian version of an Eastern Arab dance, both a traditional and a modern Japanese dance, a popular love song from Ecuadorian folklore and the always popular, high-energy series of South Korean K-pop dances.
About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College.” Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.
