MONROE, Conn. — Masuk High School celebrated its 5th annual Culture Fair last Tuesday. Students representing over 30 different countries dressed up for the occasion, created colorful posters and brought authentic booth decor, as well as samples of traditional snacks and desserts.
“It was a little tricky to prepare for the event this year because our schedule changed from block scheduling to eight 45-minute periods a day, which means only two FLEX sessions a week,” said Iga Leszczynska, a French teacher at Masuk. “Students are busy with sports and after-school activities, which leaves little time for regular meetings and rehearsals.”
“However, I am very impressed with how everyone teamed up and showed up for the event,” she added. “Students who performed on stage choreographed their dances and musical performances on their own, despite being overwhelmed with other end-of-the-year activities.”
The event has grown since its first edition. This time, the performances took place in the auditorium instead of the gym, giving the event a more artistic and elevated atmosphere matching the students’ hard work, dancing and musical talents, according to Leszczynska.
The Masuk Choir, led by Margaret Chaves, amazed its audience with the Russian song “Kalinka” and the Haitian song “Wangol.” Choir member Evonyi Jones beautifully sang the popular and melancholic Portuguese song “Laurandinha.”
Alaina Sy, Lexa and Leya Dizon, and Veronica Rodrigues performed a fascinating folk dance from the Philippines, called Tinikling, showcasing both rhythm and agility. The girls danced while jumping over moving, intercrossing 20-foot-long poles.
“As an eighth grader, it was really fun to dance on stage with my sister and her friends,” Leya Dizon said. “I would definitely do it again in my freshman year!”
The Slavic Band performed a traditional Greek dance tune using the accordion (played by Daniel Kocan), clarinet (Mathew Colberg), tambourine (Antonis Konstantinidis), and violin (Daniel Wilenski). Mansi Sanapanavar, Shanaya Modi, Ava Heffelfinger, and Marylynn Thattil worked hard on a colorful and energetic interpretation of four dances from different regions of India.
Maddie Khan demonstrated professional ballet skills, while presenting Italian and Spanish variation pieces. The show ended with a performance by the very talented Jeremiah Purdy, who played music by Carlos Santana on the electric guitar.
“This was the 2nd time I represented the UK,” Emily Clark, Masuk junior, said of this year’s fair. “Instead of tea, I handed out English scones. Representing the UK was one of my favorite parts of my high school years. I will be a senior next fall, and I plan on doing it again because people loved my booth and learning about my family history.”
“I have represented Poland for all four years of my high school career, and I can proudly say these days have been my most memorable experiences here at Masuk,” said Karolina Jaworska. “Being able to share my culture and teach others about it is such a gratifying feeling and I would not hesitate to do it again.”
“Four years of representing Poland in the Cultural Fair taught me that culture is more than traditions, it’s about sharing the past, celebrating the present and helping the future generations,” Klaudia Jaworska said.
Each year, the Culture Fair grows more and more,” said Daniel Kocan. “I am so grateful for the students and staff that helped make this possible. This year was especially meaningful to me, because some students wanted to represent Ukraine alongside me, despite not having any known heritage from there. Their eagerness to participate, learn, and teach others about Ukraine, dancing while I played accordion and sharing fun facts to students passing by was a heartwarming experience I will never forget.”
“To see others enjoy my culture in a time where it is being actively attacked means the world to me,” Kocan continued, “especially since everyone has heard of Ukraine because of the war, but don’t know much about the country itself and the cultural beauty it has to offer. That’s what this fair is for, to give everyone’s culture a chance to be shared and celebrated.”
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