This Friday, the Carolina Union is hosting an event called Culture Shock in the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History from 6 to 9 p.m.
The UNC-Chapel Hill Organization for African Students Interests and Solidarity, or OASIS, is spearheading the event and collaborating with other UNC-CH cultural groups to provide a fun night of showcasing the talent of different cultures through dance, spoken word and acting.
“Culture Shock is an event where OASIS will be presenting their talents," Bennetta Clarke, social chair of OASIS, said. "It is also a platform for other cultural organizations on campus to do the same with dancing and spoken word.”
The other cultural groups involved in the showcase are Ebony Readers/Onyx Theatre, the Pacific Islander Student Association, Misconception Hip-Hop Dance Company, the Arab Students Organization, the Caribbean Student Association and Moonlight Hip-Hop Dance Crew.
Giving each culture a platform to express itself is a pillar of the event.
“There really isn’t a main event on campus that brings together different cultures to showcase their talent," Clarke said. "So we thought we might as well be the first ones on campus to have an event like this.”
Brittany Smith, a senior who has been involved with the group Misconception since her first year, encouraged students to come out to the event.
“It is cool to see things you would not be normally exposed to," Smith said. "It is free, and it’s a Friday night. It’s fun to see something you wouldn’t normally go to.”
An important part of the event is the way it gives each culture an equal opportunity to showcase their own talent to the public along with the other groups.
