When Palo Alto High School’s second Cultural Assembly took place on March 31, there were some differences that set it distinctly apart from last year’s event.
For one, this year’s assembly was more diverse.
Last year’s cultural assembly showcased four different cultures, while this year’s cultural assembly showcased six.
Specifically, this year’s cultural assembly consisted of dances, songs and poems from Indian, Ukrainian, Korean, Latino, Chinese and Polynesian cultures. These performances varied from traditional folk songs and dances like “La Llorona” and “La Iguana” to the more modern Bollywood song and dance.
Another difference was participation: Last year, there were five performances, while this year, there were 12, with Latino and Indian cultures represented multiple times.
According to Alyssa Bond, the director of the Associated Student Body, the increase in performers compared to last year’s Cultural Assembly was a noticeable change.
“This year, it was easier to get performers than last year because it [the assembly] was so unknown,” Bond said. “We [ASB] had to keep reaching out and ask people, please, please. This year we were able to fill up the slate of performers pretty quickly. So that was a nice change to see that.”
According to Bond, the aim of the Cultural Assembly is to showcase the various cultures that make up the Paly community and give students the opportunity to highlight their culture.
“I get a lot of really positive feedback about the performances,” Bond said. “People tend to come to any sort of assembly a little bit negative, thinking: Why do we have to do this sort of thing? Then they come out of it recognizing that it’s an important event and that it gets us to appreciate a culture that’s not our own.”
Senior performer Ivy Lee, who sang a traditional Korean folk song this year, said that the small number of performers and cultures represented last year was what pushed her to perform this year.
“I noticed that there wasn’t any Korean representation last year,” Lee said. “So as the Korean Club president, I decided I’d just step up and do it. That’s why I decided to perform for Korea.”
Lee said that the cultural assembly was a good way of showing the diversity of the Paly community, and encouraged participation.
“Whenever there’s a culture assembly, make sure to attend and support your friends,” Lee said. “Also, make sure to perform if you want to, because it’s such a great way to get your culture out there.”
Sophomore performer Liani Ragade, who sang a traditional Mexican folk song, said that she wanted to perform again, as she loved the experience.
“It was really fun getting to see all the different performers and the cultures they’re representing and then to perform myself,” Ragade said. “With performing, I felt like I was sharing my culture with the school community, and I feel like that was something different from last year. The song I was singing is a traditional Mexican folk song. My mom’s family all really liked this song, and I felt like I was bringing a part of the song we all like, a song from our culture, just to share with the school for a day.”
