November was a flurry of international performances. The 2nd Annual Traditional Chinese Dance Show and the 39th Annual Association of International Students Banquet and Show celebrated the diverse culture and talents of Missouri State students. 

Rhythm in the Flourish

The Chinese Students Scholarship Association (CSSA) hosted the 2nd Annual Traditional Chinese Dance Show November 11 in the Plaster Student Union Theater. 

Student performances began with “Rhythm in the Flourish,” a song of motherland from the heart. The performance conveys love for Chinese history and civilization and sense of pride as a Chinese individual.

Practice Makes Perfect

Most of the performers had never danced previously. However, they worked unbelievably hard on this show. The dance committee started preparing for the show in February 2017. All the dancers practiced for months before the show.

“It’s so meaningful for me to perform at the dance show,” Junior Rui Zhang said. “We are representing China, Chinese culture.”

Sharing Culture through Movement

“We appreciate that Missouri State gives us the opportunity to showcase traditional Chinese dance culture,” dance club director Zhenzhen Zheng said, “We hope to continue this tradition as long as we can.”

The closing dance was surprisingly a traditional American line dance. At the end of the show, all the dancers came out and invited the audience to the front to dance together. President Smart and his wife Gail’s “solo dance” ended the successful dance show.  

Roots of Us

The Association of International Students has hosted a banquet and show for almost 40 years. Each year, audience members leave the Plaster Student Union Theater thinking it can’t get any better. Each year, they’re wrong. 

The 2017 Banquet and Show was held in Plaster Student Union November 18. Guests began the evening in the ballroom, where they enjoyed foods prepared by students representing many different types of cuisine.  Following dinner, all moved to the theater for the real party. 

Celebrating Traditions

AIS Banquet and Show performances are always spectacular, diverse, and showcase our talented international student body. This year they made a special point to highlight cultural traditions through dance and song. 

This type of cultural exchange is important to association members, and audiences loved every minute. 

A New Discovery

#InternationalBears made a very important discovery in their preparations for these shows. 

Our students are seriously talented. We already knew that though. We shouldn’t have been surprised to learn the next part… 

President Clif Smart has some serious moves.