The 17th annual Global Gala spotlighted a range of cultural heritage on stage Friday through performances by student organizations across campus, hosted by Iowa State University’s Student Union Board (SUB) to celebrate and promote diversity.
The night was an opportunity for students, staff, faculty and members of the Ames community to immerse themselves in other cultures, embrace various traditions and customs and support diverse student organizations at ISU.
The event was held in the Memorial Union in Durham Great Hall, emceed by SUB Vice President for Membership Olivia Thompson, a junior in management information systems. Doors opened at 6 p.m. with free entry, and the performances began at 7 p.m. Light refreshments were available and attendees could participate in crafting activities throughout.
The Global Gala’s acts merged traditional and modern culture expressed through fashion, music, dancing and performance. It served as a chance for student organizations to share their culture and traditions and recognize the diversity of the student body at Iowa State and within the Ames community.
The performances kicked off with the Motion Sickness Dance Team, a student hip-hop club at Iowa State, followed by solo act Chinmayi Gudi, a dedicated dancer with over 16 years of training, performing Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance.
The Bhangra Dance Team, a student-led dance group, celebrated South Asian heritage through traditional folk dance, Bhangra and Giddha, and was succeeded by an appearance from Hindu YUVA, a student organization at Iowa State that promotes Hindu culture and values.
The Uganda Alliance, which partnered with the Tusubila Craft Group to sell handmade goods crafted by women in the Kamuli District of Uganda, modeled a tote, a basket and jewelry.
The Egyptian Student Association (ESA) is a club that aims to create inclusivity, celebrate traditions and customs and support Egyptian students on campus. The ESA performed a mix of dance, music and storytelling to represent Egyptian culture.
“I performed the Egyptian Saidi men’s dance,” Yassin Younes, a first year in aerospace engineering and member of the ESA, said. “My inspiration behind it was to showcase the richness of Egyptian culture, especially how traditions are preserved no matter how far people travel. The dance reflects the deep-rooted heritage of Upper Egypt, emphasizing strength, unity and cultural pride.”
For Younes, this performance symbolized the importance of diverse cultural expression and honoring cultural roots.
“Through this performance, I wanted to highlight the beauty of cultural differences and how people stay connected to their traditions wherever they go,” Younes said.
Next, the OG TFI, a dance duo, honored cultural traditions of Southern India with their performance of forms of Indian classical and folk dance in traditional attire.
The Bangladesh Student Association represented Bangladeshi culture in a four-minute performance combining modern rap with traditional folklore by dancers Maisara Nafeesa and Tameema Salehin.
DubH Dance Club, a hip-hop dance organization open to all, showed off their dynamic choreography, followed by Bollywood Beats, a dance group with a vibrant Bollywood style.
The event wrapped up with the Martial Arts Club, which teaches students of all skill levels Taekwondo, Judo and Hapkido, forms of self-defense with ancient roots. Students in gis and belts demonstrated their training, showcasing shoulder throws, striking wooden boards into pieces and more.
The annual Global Gala brought together a variety of cultures through the performances and offered a night to appreciate the unique traditions across different cultures and clubs at ISU.
