Cultures from Latin America, the Pacific Islands and other areas will be celebrated during the annual "Heritage Week" sponsored by Multicultural Student Services at Brigham Young University.
Events start on Saturday, March 22, and run through Saturday, March 29. Tickets for all events are now on sale at the information desk in the Wilkinson Student Center.
"'Heritage Week' celebrates many of the positive aspects of the Hispanic, Native American and Polynesian cultures. It also provides a unique opportunity for BYU students of all races to learn together through their participation in this program as performers and leaders," said Jim Slaughter, assistant director of Multicultural Student Services.
The week begins with a fiesta from 5 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, which celebrates the cultures of Latin America. The fiesta is in the WSC ballroom and includes a dinner, show and dance.
Tickets for the dinner are $10 and must be purchased by March 18. A ticket to dinner includes the show and dance. Tickets are $5 for the show and $3 for the dance and can be purchased at the door.
A luau scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in the WSC Ballroom will recall the origins of the ancient Polynesian inhabitants and how they were guided at sea on their long voyages.
The theme of the luau is "Voyagers," and will be celebrated through dancing and music provided by performers representing a variety of ethnic backgrounds, including Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Fiji and Tahiti.
Luau tickets are available through the night of the show and are $8 for food, which is served only on Tuesday night, and $5 for the show. Food and show tickets are sold separately.
Living Legends, a BYU dance group that combines Native American, Polynesian and Latin American cultures, will perform Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center.
Living Legends has performed throughout the United States and in more than 45 foreign countries. Tickets for the show are $10 and two-for-one ticket flyers are available in 1320 WSC.
The Harold A. Cedartree Pow Wow dance competition, which has been celebrated for 22 years, will take place on Friday and Saturday. Registration begins at 4 p.m. Friday in the WSC East Lounge. Awards for the dance competition will be given in more than 10 age and style categories.
In addition to the dances and competitions, vendors and cultural booths will be set up in the WSC Garden Court during the week.
Multicultural Student Services is comprised of multicultural specialists who value the total development of the multicultural students and work to help them adjust to BYU.
For more information, contact Multicultural Student Services at (801) 422-3065.
Writer: Liesel Enke
