As is nears its decade anniversary, Pangea has stepped up its game by focusing on more specific cultures this year.
“In previous years the food booths were a little broader, we would have Africa or Asia,” said coordinator Jessica Verge. “This year we tried to focus on more specific cultures.”
This annual event, hosted by the SA, invited students to take part in worldly culture. Students attending had the chance to fill their bellies, watch performers on stage and be a part of DC and UOIT’s multicultural crowd.
“I love the diversity this event brings together, I love how many different cultures can get together and share and everybody gets to experience everything,” said veteran dancer Tanraj Lidder of the Nacs.
The Nacs, a dance group representing South Asia, performed a mixed dance with four combined styles: Bhangra, hip-hop, Indian classical and Bollywood.
Lidder said the dance was meant to represent the Looney Tunes.
“Looney Tunes is our main theme. Hopefully with our dance, with our attitude hopefully, people can see the characters come to life,” he said.
Every student at event got a passport stamped at the food courts, one for each culture. The passport also served as a lottery ticket for one of the four prizes.
Representing their home country, the Bangladesh Student Association and their two dance groups performed a pop performance.
Another highlight of the show, and a change of pace for the audience, was the African Student Association’s traditional African clothing fashion show. Going with music, several students walked up the aisle just like real life.
Other dance performances represented Africa, the Caribbean and Canada.
After a couple of performances, three students received travel bags. After the final performance, one lucky winner got to walk away with a travel card worth $1000.
Of course, many students came for one reason: free food.
The SA’s goal is to improve the experience for Pangea with every coming year, with the main goal focusing more and more on specific cultures, especially since Africa alone covers a lot of cultures, according to Verge.
“Every year, we’re looking to make it bigger and better. So any way we can improve upon it that’s what we’re focused on.”
What next year’s Pangea will bring, no one knows. But come for the food and stay for the show.
