Announcing the CulturalFest Performance Showcase 2020 Lineup

We're excited to announce this year's lineup of talented performers from around the world at FIUTS CulturalFest Performance Showcase 2020:

Unplugged (India): Unplugged will present unexpectedly harmonious music by fusing pieces from their own ethnic backgrounds with pieces from Western culture.

Natya UW at the CulturalFest Performance Showcase 2019.

Tikhala Itaye (Malawi/Africa): Tikhala Itaye is performing spoken word poetry about Malawi and the beauty of cultural diversity. Her performance is accompanied by African sounds and instrumental music.

Estelle Thomas-Kurnevich (Belarus): Estelle Thomas will be performing an individual Belarusian folk dance inspired by the traditions and knowledge of her grandmother. Authentic costume, music of pagan influence, and “peasant” forms of movement will leave the audience with a lasting impression of Belarusian culture.

UW Kahaani (USA/India): UW Kahaani will showvase the variety of dance present in both US and Indian culture. They will incorporate various styles of Bollywood, Jazz, Contemporary, South-Indian, and Hip-Hop dance into a performance that makes for a compelling and interactive audience experience.

Chinese Orchestra (China): Using a variety of Chinese instruments with unique pitches and characteristics, Chinese Orchestra will perform two pieces to leave the audience with a true impression of traditional Chinese culture.

Afro Dance (Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and other African Countries): To share their love of African history and culture with the community, Afro Dance will incorporate both traditional and more contemporary African elements into a memorable and striking dance performance.

Hanwoollim (South Korea): Hanwoollim will showcase Pungmulgut, a festive percussion style associated with the agricultural towns of South Korea. Pungmul refers to the traditional percussion instruments and their rhythms as a whole, and Gut refers to the Korean traditional shamanistic wish that hopes for wellness and peace for the people in the town, as well as hopes for a great harvest.

Karen (Burma/Myanmar): Karen’s performance is about inviting people to come together to celebrate the New Year. It encourages the ethnic people of Burma to keep unity as well as preserve their cultural traditions.

KUD Sevdah Seattle at the CulturalFest Performance Showcase 2019.

Natya UW (South India): Natya UW will feature several forms of Indian classical dance including bharatanatyam and kuchipudi. They will act out the ancient Indian story of Kannagi and Konalan through elaborate hand gestures and intricate footwork.

KUD Sevdah Seattle (Bosnia and Herzegovina): KUD Sevdah Seattle is a Bosnian and Herzegovinian traditional folk dance group. Their name “Sevdah,” means “love” in old Bosnian, a theme they embrace through stories, dance, and one-of-a-kind traditional outfits.

Ticket Information:

General admission tickets are on sale now for $15 online. Discounted student tickets are available for $10 in advance at the FIUTS office (Schmitz 250) or at Wednesday Lunch (February 5th). Tickets will also be available at the door for $15 if capacity has not been reached. Children 10 and under are free but do need a ticket to enter. Buy your tickets today!

Also, remember to join us for free cultural activities and more at the International Expo on Thursday, February 6, in the Husky Union Building (HUB) Ballrooms, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. See you there!

Can't come to CulturalFest, but want to support FIUTS? Consider making a donation to our cross-cultural and educational programs serving students and community members in Seattle and around the world.