Clapping, skipping, and spinning on the Hauser Auditorium stage dressed in bright blue and orange attire, Ameesha (Form VI) and Neha (Form V) Sampat performed the opening dance for the annual Multicultural Assembly on Friday, April 7, 2006. The sisters and event co-chairs used their traditional Indian dance to kick off the series of performances used to recognize the many cultures that make up the student body. With Willy Welt (Form VI) as a master of ceremonies, the assembly once again united the Middle and Upper School in song and dance.
Following the Sampat sisters’ number, Pingry middle schoolers took the stage to rouse the crowd with the hip hop song “Gold Digger.” With half the group dressed in black and the other in white, the students danced to the funky beats while wittingly playing on the song’s theme. Dancers included: Sofia Barrionuevo (Form II), Chloe Carver (Form I), Julia Dowling (Form I), Paige Farley (Form II), Ashely Feng (Form I), Amy Gopinathan (Form II), Jennifer Soong (Form II), Maia Heard (Form II), Katherine O’Connor (Form I), Colleen Roberts (Form I), Taylor Smith (Form I), Hayley Shelby (Form I), Rebecca Youngdahl (Form I), Jennifer Gorelick (Form II), Remy Teicher (Form II), and Myles Bristow (Form II).
A number of performances were used to show the multifaceted history and culture that India has to offer. Form III students Sarah Paton and Elizabeth Abreu dressed in shimmering, traditional Indian clothing and danced to another student’s melodic singing of “Bhaage Re Mann.” A group of other dancers, including Form III students Anita Ganti Ankita Agarwal, gave an upbeat dance to the song “Deedar De.” Using alternating, modern movements and wrist bells, the girls demonstrated their mastery of the art form.
Likewise the Sampat sisters once again took the stage and danced to “Vajood.” Using bells on their waist, arm movements, and intricate poses, the sisters danced in sync to the powerful music. In addition to dance, the song “Raaga Madhuwanti,” was expertly performed by Parul Agarwal (Form IV). Sitting on the edge of the stage barefoot, Parul introduced the crowd to the distinctive sounds of the sitar.
Aside from the sitar, the flute was also used as a tool for enlightenment. Lauren Salz (Form VI) skillfully performed, “Kol Nidre,” a traditional Jewish prayer. Joined on the piano by music teacher Dr. Andrew Moore, Lauren lulled the crowd to the tune. Following Lauren, Hannah Goldstein (Form III) took the stage and gave a memorable rendition to “Hit Me With a Hot Note.” Using her flexibility, kicks, splits, and leaps, Hannah demonstrated the signature moves of musical theater and jazz culture.
In addition to all that jazz, memorable American classics were played on the piano by Julian Quintanilla (Form V), who got the audience swaying and singing along to his performances of “Rubber Duckie” (of Sesame Street fame), Duke Ellington’s “Black and Tan Fantasy,” and Erroll Gardner’s “Dreamy.”
The showcase was rounded out by the dance group, Shades of Color, which performed to “Temperature,” a hip hop/reggae tune from the Caribbean. Dressed in camouflage and using synchronized hip and footwork, the dancers included: Cathryn Stanley (Form VI), Jazmin Wright (Form VI), Kiwanii Pond (form VI), Shadorah Howard (Form IV), Yaadira Brown (Form III), Robert Tilson (Form VI), Toreyan Clarke (Form V), Philip Artis (Form V), and Maynard Pond (Form III).
After the music and dance, the assembly culminated in a fashion show, where students displayed the traditional and modern apparel worn in Asia, Africa, Spain, and America. Displaying the intricately designed garments was yet another form of entertainment and education, but what is most important is the school’s celebration of its diversity.
© 2006 The Pingry School
