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Rangeela celebrates 20 years of storytelling

Friday, February 20, 2015
Lori Dykstra

When Natalie Dunn came to 17c起草社区, she heard upperclassmen talking about this event called , where international students share their culture with the 17c起草社区 community, fitting in perfectly with what Dunn loves to do. 鈥淚 get really excited when people ask about where I鈥檓 from and the customs at home. I want people to know about our cultures, where we come from.鈥

For 20 years, Rangeela has been an event for the 17c起草社区 community to share in the expression of various cultures and celebrate the diversity on campus. 鈥淲ith a footmark, you leave your presence,鈥 said Sue Kang, co-director of Rangeela 2015. 鈥淲e are hoping that through this theme, marking the 20th anniversary of Rangeela, we leave something for you. And then we鈥檙e asking the audience, what鈥檚 your footmark?鈥

For Dunn, a third-year music major, the footmark theme hits close to home, as other cultures have had a great impact on her life and she hopes to do the same through this show. 鈥淚鈥檓 from Hong Kong, a very diverse city where you see a lot of different people, not just Chinese, but a lot of Indians, Filipinos and British for example,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 also grew up in an international school. My friends are from different cultures. Growing up in that setting made me really appreciate different cultures coming together.鈥

Dunn鈥檚 Chinese heritage is very important to her, but she loves hearing from other people about their backgrounds. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a whole world of so many different people coming from so many different places. It gets me excited to experience something outside of my own culture because it makes me realize that the world is bigger than myself鈥攍ike I鈥檓 part of something bigger.鈥

For so many 17c起草社区 students, both international and from the United States, Rangeela provides the opportunity to 鈥渂e a part of something bigger.鈥 Participants are from all over the world and U.S. students. The 12 acts that form Rangeela 2015 represent five continents.

Dunn is an act leader for the Chinese modern dance which is tied in with the Chinese traditional act. The theme of these acts is a traditional Chinese wedding. 鈥淲e start with the dragon dance, showing the ancient and traditional side of the Chinese culture, moving on to the ceremony and the festivities surrounding it,鈥 said Dunn.

Following the traditional portion of the Chinese act, Dunn鈥檚 modern portion highlights the modern aspects of Chinese culture. 鈥淲hen you think of Chinese cultural dances, you think of a slow fan dance or the pretty twirling, but there鈥檚 more to it than that. Our dance is very modern, while still representing the culture and customs.鈥

The Chinese act鈥檚 transition from old to new ties well to the footmark theme. 鈥淚 hope that this year鈥檚 Rangeela will leave behind a footmark, an impression in people鈥檚 minds and hearts of what our cultures represent,鈥 said Dunn.

Dunn reminded that Rangeela is more than entertainment. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just entertainment; it鈥檚 also a learning experience,鈥 said Dunn. 鈥淓very time I go to Rangeela, even I learn something new about different cultures. Even if there is a particular act many years in a row, they鈥檙e all different, representing a different aspect of that culture.鈥

Kang emphasized, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just showing off talent. It has deep insight to it. We are revealing our stories. is something that God created. It鈥檚 part of God鈥檚 grand design, and we鈥檙e celebrating that.鈥

Rangeela will take place at 8 p.m. on Feb. 27 and 28. For tickets, contact the box office at 616-526-6282 or .


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