Culture to Choreo

When ticket sales for United Nations (UN) Night and CultuRama open, snagging tickets is always a mad rush for anyone who’s ever wished to attend. Ask any of our lucky showgoers about their experience, and they’ll gush about the mind-blowing extravaganza on stage, with several student-led performances representing the many countries that make up our UWCSEA community.

These yearly celebrations are more than just a showcase of spectacular performances by our students, they highlight our community’s dedication towards embracing our diversity and valuing unity.

What’s the secret behind the scenes, or perhaps the question should be, WHO is behind the scenes?

Meet the brilliant minds backstage—our cultural ambassadors! This dedicated group of students are the masters of their own choreography, pouring their utmost effort into authentically portraying their culture and traditions. Their goal is to cultivate a sincere understanding and appreciation for diverse cultures, fostering genuine cultural awareness in every captivating performance.

Mohamed Abeid, Grade 12,
CultuRama Tanzanian Dance Cultural Ambassador, East Campus

We represent a bridge between our country’s cultural heritage and the world. We play a pivotal role in shaping creative decisions on the promotion and preservation of the culture. I think the role of a cultural ambassador is important because it ensures the preservation and accurate representation of the unique traditional heritage of the specified culture.

I highly value open communication, which includes facilitating cultural workshops to address concerns, clarify doubts, and emphasise the importance of respecting and being sensitive towards cultural representation; this ensures we all share a common understanding. From the moment I applied as a lead creator, I started visualising the performance and drew inspiration from memories of my family and my tribe’s cultural dances. I carefully selected songs that I believed embodied and represented my culture.

After all the hard work, imagination, and hours of rehearsal put into the performances, seeing it come to life on stage was the most captivating moment of my experience. The dance moves, the music, and the smiles coming from my group having fun as one big family were my favourite parts.

I will always cherish the profound sense of unity and collaboration that permeated every aspect of this project, spanning from the intense rehearsals to the amazing final performance. It was truly heartwarming to witness individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures uniting with a shared passion for representing Tanzania’s culture as their own.

This experience has strengthened my connection to the broader UWCSEA community by highlighting the power of shared values and the mutual understanding that transcends differences, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and a collective purpose within our community.”

Soktheara, Grade 11
UN Night Cambodian Dance Cultural Ambassador, Dover Campus

As cultural ambassadors, our role extends beyond planning, time management, and execution. We’re responsible for representing our countries and people in a manner that is both authentic and respectful.

Fostering a supportive learning atmosphere was my priority and I was committed to creating a positive experience for all dancers, regardless of their backgrounds. I gradually introduced the performance routine and checked in on everyone during rehearsals. To me, success lies not only in sticking to the plan but also in our ability to overcome challenges as a united team that respects one another. It also requires adaptability to address any unforeseen circumstances that could occur during the performance, such as wardrobe malfunctions or the dancers’ unfamiliarity with my traditional costumes.

When preparing for the performance, I spoke to older members of my family and even professionals in my country. I spent hours online researching and studying cultural appropriateness and worked towards best representing my cultural attire with tailors.

During the long break, I dedicated time to perfecting my dance, with the help of my mum and grandma. I had up to two rehearsals weekly with my team, lasting up to 1.5 hours each. I also managed logistics, reviewed recordings and communicated with the Drama department. We work closely with our dancers too, encouraging a positive approach to learning new choreography with which they are not familiar, and they meet us halfway with their readiness to learn/explore new cultures; building our communication as a team beyond just dancing skills.

My favourite moment in this entire journey was right before our last performance. My team members’ spirits and commitment ignited something in me, which is almost indescribable. Even under incredible pressure, nerves, and exhaustion from the back-to-back performances, we all were still cheerful and eager to give our best; it made me truly appreciate and admire the team.

My determination to bring my culture onto the stage goes beyond my own worries and fears, and it made me feel seen in our large, diverse community. By embracing my own culture and learning from others who were on the same journey, I realised that the support from members of our community, made me feel so much more connected to UWCSEA, and I’m already thinking of ways to give back to our community.

Embracing our community

Being part of this richly diverse community presents us with the opportunity to explore, exchange and engage with cultural ideas from around the globe. With UN Night and CultuRama, the world truly is our stage, where our backgrounds and identities cross paths. Here, we get to dive into a melting pot of cultural ideas, exchanging and engaging with one another to bring our diversity to life through dance. Once the curtains close, these experiences don’t just entertain; they empower, enlighten, and leave us with a sense of unity and respect for one another that lasts far beyond the applause.