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February 14, 2006

Mediterranean spirit sweeps Fletcher at student cultural show

The spirit of the Mediterranean transformed one of the campus dining halls on February 12 for The Fletcher School’s annual Mediterranean Night cultural show. Mediterranean Night, or “Med Night” as it is more popularly known, is one of the four shows organized by Fletcher students to showcase the range of cultures and the many artistic and performance talents among the student body.

The evening started with a buffet dinner of Palestinian traditional roast chicken, stewed vegetables, rice and lentils, as well as Greek salad and baklava, and Israeli peanut crisps.

To create a more Mediterranean atmosphere, the organizers covered the floor of the hall with carpets, and organized a shoe check-in at the entrance so that the audience could eat and watch the performances in comfort seated on the carpeted floor.

The performances covered all parts of the Mediterranean, and represented a wide range of the region’s performing arts - medieval traditions, folk dances, classical recitals, and more contemporary solo and group dance.

Two students in medieval costumes opened the show with songs that have been performed by singing groups at Spanish universities since the Middle Ages. The Iberian peninsula was also represented with lively flamenco and rhumba dances.

A dozen Fletcher students later took to the stage for a belly dance ensemble, before descending into the audience to beckon spectators to join their dance. This spirit was continued by another student who used veils in an elegantly choreographed dance. In a very different form of Mediterranean art, another student gave an excellent performance of opera arias by Puccini and Mozart.

Fletcher’s cultural events traditionally raise money for international charities, and Med Night was no exception. Students bid generously on Mediterranean dinners, voice and piano lessons, and backgammon coaching, with the proceeds going to Horizon, a Moroccan charity which helps the physically handicapped poor in the south of the country.

Group folk dances from Greece, Romania, and Israel wrapped up the performances, with the audience finally rising from the carpets to join the lively dances.

By Charles De Simone, MALD '07

Posted by jessica at February 14, 2006 10:15 AM