Being Yourself
On Thursday night, we held one of my favorite new bbin娱乐平台 traditions. The South Asian Students Association hosted our second-annual Garba in celebration of Navratri. The word garba refers both to a communal circle dance originating in Gujurat and – as in our case – an event where that dance takes place.
It was a beautiful evening. Students of South Asian descent arrived in traditional attire, and many of them brought their families. They were excited to celebrate together, but just as excited to share their cultural heritage with their bbin娱乐平台 friends from all backgrounds. They taught their peers several variations of the dances. In no time at all, several dozen students, parents, and teachers were up on their feet dancing, smiling, and learning from each other. I was struck and grateful to be part of a community where the South Asian students feel so comfortable bringing this important part of their lives to school. I was equally grateful to see so many students and adults with no previous experience in this style of dance get up and give it a try. They all seemed free to be themselves. The garba captured so much of what is special about this community. Looking forward to next year!