One of my fondest memories of my first year of college was International Fiesta, spring of '06. Coaxing me to join them, my friends promised a great time and show. Great show indeed. I remember the energy of the theater at the CFA that rippled all the way to the back section where I was sitting. While the performances were the centerpiece of the show, I distinctly remember that it was the crowd that made the show as amazing as it was. The shouting and cheering as specific groups came up on stage paved the way for the various SA clubs that were performing. It was as if the louder and noisier the crowd was for a particular club, the more the club gave back through their performance.
Looking back two years later, I wonder what happened.
In just two years, Fiesta has become a fierce competition between the clubs that perform. The positive energy of putting on the best show has morphed into an energetic display of beating other clubs to get first place, or even a placement at all.
While the show is still lively, with lots of addicting beats and vibrant colors, many other things seemed to have changed. My second and third years of watching the Fiesta, I have seen it rear an ugly head of drama and competition. Winning trophies has been pushed to the front of most peoples' heads. While striving for first, second or third place, complaints of unfairness and abuse of the point system that determined the "winners" grew larger and larger. Like one of the MC's jokingly said during last Friday night's show, perhaps International Fiesta should be called "Beat JSA" instead.
Perhaps it was the fact that I became involved with student organizations in the following years that allowed me the "backstage pass" to see what went into these performances and all the drama that played out before, during and even after the Fiesta. Or perhaps it was because I later met people who became directly involved in the Fiestas, whether as club members who were supporting, dancers who were performing, or backstage crew who helped put the show together.
It is, however also due to the fact that I have been involved in SA clubs and met people who take part in the show that I have come to see other aspects of the show - before the doors even open. For the past two years, I have seen clubs practice their pieces into the dead end of the night. I have seen the blood, sweat and dedication that performers put into the dances for their club and for the show - and there is no doubt that every club works their hardest to push through before the curtain rises on the night of the show.
In the end, for the last two years this annual culture show has become a lot more serious and a lot less fun.
It seems, to an outsider like me that people are forgetting what this show should be about. People are forgetting that it really is NOT a competition. After all, how can one really compare cultures, even in terms of dance, music, costumes, etc. to the point that there is a "winner?" It is as if one were to say that one culture is better than another.
For me, this show should just be about showing parts of one's culture to people who may not have experienced it before or in a way that has not been seen before. It is about getting people outside one's culture and club to recognize, "hey, that's cool" and to get people who are part of that culture or club to be, "yeah, we're proud to be a part of that culture."
For all the effort that people put into their performances for the show, is it not enough to see the pride from fellow club members' faces after the routine is completed? It should be enough.
Is it not enough to see the results of months of practices and hard work? It should be enough.
Does it have to be about who is better and who beat whom? It shouldn't be about that.
International Fiesta should be an experience much like it was back in my freshman year - it should be about having fun. To get the crowd going and to feel good about doing so should be enough. Winning first, second or third place should just be an extra-added bonus to putting on the best you got just because you can.
Perhaps this year, with clubs like Indian Student Association getting first place and Filipino American Student Association finally getting a placement after years of being a part of the show, will bring a change to the atmosphere. Maybe with new clubs, like Chinese Student Association and African Student Association joining in, this huge show will bring back the mindset of a "great time."
Put on a good show, give the best you have got, have fun and let that be enough.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
