On Friday, April 17, Paint Branch hosted its annual International Night, bringing students and families together to celebrate cultures from around the world. Organized by SGA and led by sponsor Ms. Aumitre, the event aimed to highlight the community’s diversity while creating a space where students could proudly share their heritage.
Prior to the event, performers spent weeks practicing to ensure the evening went smoothly. For host and senior Divina Motto, it was a successful evening. “Hosting International Night was very fun. I was able to work and connect with other students in order to help display the diversity in the PB community.”
The night began with a variety of international foods, giving guests the opportunity to experience different cuisines before the show began. Attendees were able to try out small bites of food ranging across the cultural spectrum, including Japanese, Mexican, and Ethiopian. Promptly after this, the performances began with Divina introducing each group. Panteras Bailadores, PB’s Latin American dance group, kicked off the show with an energetic routine.
South Asian Student Association (SASA) members Zunaira Shahbaz and Eshmal Imran performed a mixed South Asian Bollywood and Punjabi dance to the songs “Mamwa Laagi” and “White Brown Black.” This was followed by more dancing as PB’s Ethiopian Eritrean Student Association (EESA) members and Springbrook’s EESA joined forces to represent the different regions of Eritrea and Ethiopia. The Black African Student Union (BASU) followed with a lively performance showcasing dances from across Africa. One of the BASU performers, Aria Bandio, said that she especially valued the experience because it “helped showcase all the different cultures within the African diaspora” and “advertised [BASU] for more people to join next year.”
Aside from dancing, the event also featured a powerful performance by a band that included some current and past PB students. Following the performances, a fashion show highlighted traditional clothing from the many cultures PB students represent from Latin America to South Asia. It made for a wonderful end to the show and left the crowd eagerly awaiting next year’s International Night.
Ms. Aumitre emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “I think it’s important for everyone to recognize the diverse culture we have and to celebrate it.” She also explained that the goal of International Night is “to get as many people into the seats as possible for students to feel proud of their heritage.” International Night served as a reminder of the diversity of students’ cultures by bringing together food, music, and performance.
