April 10, 2008  

Free ‘Festival of Cultures’ at Pellissippi State offers fun, education

Learning about faraway cultures doesn’t always require a lot of money, a passport or even a flight out of the United States.

In fact, it’s as simple as taking the short drive to Pellissippi State Technical Community College to attend the “Festival of Cultures” on April 18.

Faculty, staff and students representing four continents and more than a dozen nations will share their music, dance, food and native costumes and traditional attire at the event.

The festival is 6-9 p.m. in the Goins Administration Building Student Lounge on the Pellissippi Campus on Hardin Valley Road.

The event, which is sponsored by the college’s Multicultural Awareness Club and Access and Diversity Office, is free and open to the public.

Award-winning sitarist Indrajit Banerjee and percussionist Gourisankar Karmakar, both from India, will perform Hindustani classical music from Calcutta. Ecuadorian performer Wakay Tacuango will play tribal music using a handmade flute and panpipes.

Guests should plan to get out of their seats—they will be encouraged to try different dance styles, including the tango, salsa, Russian folk dance, lion dance, merengue and cha-cha-cha.

Booths and exhibits will offer information about Pellissippi State’s Study Abroad program, as well as practical advice about international travel.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to learn about and appreciate the cultures of other nations,” said Gayle Wood, director of the Access and Diversity Office. “The world is shrinking, and we need to expand our thinking toward the idea of the world as an international village and our students as global citizens.”

Although the festival is free, donations to the Multicultural Awareness Club will be accepted.

For event information, contact Gayle Wood, gwood@pstcc.edu or (865) 539-7160.

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