The Tavern will get a dose of global culture on Feb. 22 with International Vibe, an annual event showcasing fashion, performances and music from all over the world.
International Vibe is hosted by the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), the AU office responsible for assimilating international students into the AU community, and the International Student Leadership Team (ISLT), a group of international students chosen as “leaders in creating a more inclusive and more international culture on campus,” according to its website.
The event consists of a buffet of assorted ethnic dinner entrees and desserts from various restaurants in the D.C. area, a fashion show of authentic clothing from visited countries, Brazilian DJ MANA Cridal and 1 ½ hours worth of shows ranging from singing to dancing, performed by various AU students.
Kogod School of Business senior and ISLT member Lien Tran, the lead organizer for the performances at International Vibe, said she was surprised by how much talent AU had brought to the event this year.
“It’s going to be a really interesting night due to the diversity of talent in this year’s showcase,” Tran said. “We are representing so many different parts of the world, from Japan, India and much more.”
International Vibe will even be hosting an off-campus hip-hop group called Kudegra, a crew of D.C. dancers who representing U.S. modern dance.
“We are very lucky to have them,” Tran said.
School of International Service sophomore Anjuli Gidwani, who has lived in both Indonesia and India, is one of at least 1,000 international students and scholars from over 100 countries at AU.
“I am really excited about some students performing more traditional dances, such as the jive, a ballroom dance originated in the U.S.,” Gidwani said. “They perform it in a way that is very exciting and not your traditional dance.”
ISSS staff help international exchange students like Gidwani learn about the process for official documents needed to settle in at AU and how to thrive in the college community.
The International Vibe event is ISSS’ biggest task of the year, according to Gidwani. Although the event usually takes place in April, International Vibe is being moved to late February this year to test if they can attract a bigger crowd than if held later in the year and closer to finals.
ISLT and ISSS have been planning the event since the beginning of January and expect roughly 300 people to attend. Their goal is to create a more inclusive, multi-cultural awareness that can be provided to all AU students in order to come together.
The doors to this event open at 7 p.m. and are $15 the day of the event and $10 if bought in advance at the ISSS office located in 410 Butler Pavilion.
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