Students from various clubs and nationalities took part in the annual Diversity Assembly today, April 8. They performed songs, dances and hobbies to share and promote their cultures during a double second period schedule.

The assembly got off to a start with opening remarks by ASB member junior Chuck Kuo.

Many clubs, including the Latin Student Union (LSU), Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), French Club and Jew Crew, and individuals, including senior Tawny Peak, junior Nick Darington and sophomore Ideen Seyed, auditioned to perform in this event.

LSU kicked things off with a dance mixture of both the merengue and samba, which originated from Central America and Brazil, respectively. LSU also came back to perform the bachata, a dance from the Dominican Republic.

“I was feeling nervous, but at the same time I was glad that I was getting over with the performance,” LSU dancer junior Noel Angel said. “After all that hard work I’m glad it all went well.”

A reading of “Swing Set” by Andrea Gibson followed the Latin American dances. Freshman Max Chi then performed a Chinese classical erhu piece called the “Mongolian Horse Race.” The erhu is a traditional two-stringed Chinese instrument.

“I was nervous at first,” Max said. “But during the second half, I was happy to be performing.”

A variety of performances followed Max, including The Steppers, junior Monica Turrey and her Camp Everytown poem, Tawny’s Hawaiian Dance, Ideen singing “Pray” by Justin Beiber, a Martial Arts demonstration that included breaking bricks, Jew Crew’s description of Passover, senior Cynthia Wang on her flute, and a solo by English teacher Michael Smith, who sang a modified version of John Legend’s “Ordinary People.”

“I liked Tawney’s dance because I have never seen a Hawaiian Dance before,” freshman Jee-Min Yu said.

Nick, who performed his self-composed song, has been playing guitar for 11 years now. He plans to finish his new CD over spring break and is currently playing with his band Dusk to Dawn. They are now in a contest to play at Warped Tour. (To vote for them, go here.)

“I think the best performance was by either Ideen or Nick,” junior Elaheh Salehi said. “I never knew they had so much talent, and if it weren’t for the Diversity Assembly I would have never [known].”

Overall, the event was well-received by the student body.

“I thought it was pretty successful,” Elaheh said. “I heard lots of people saying how amazing it was. There were a lot of people that got to show their talent that usually don’t get the chance.”