Gannon University Hosts Third Annual Multicultural Dance Night

After two successful years, Gannon University’s Multicultural Dance Night, sponsored by MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton, LLP, is back with an array of scintillating performances by artists from Erie, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 22 at the Erie Playhouse.

The highlight of the year is Korean Pop dance by Yanlai Dance Academy of Pittsburgh. Erie community artists will present Liturgical dance, hoop dance, and traditional dances from China, Bhutan, Greece, Ireland, Ukraine, and west African cultures. This CHESS Speaker Series event is in partnership with Erie Playhouse.

While K-Pop is the crowd favorite this year, this artistic representation of cultures has always been a beautiful educational experience for the audience. Chinese dancers of Yanlai Academy of Pittsburgh will use fans, ribbons, and other traditional props as they move gracefully to the lilting music. Bhutanese dancers of the Tamang community of Erie will enact sweet stories of love and marriage. Hellenic dancers of Erie from Assumption Greek Orthodox Church will present lively and energetic dances that showcase the sense of unity and community. Irish Ceili is a highly skillful traditional dance-form that takes years to perfect. Long’s School of Dance dancers have won awards for their presentation of Irish dance at various national competitions and will be depicting a story of the origin of the artform in their presentation. Patterson School of Ballet will present Hopak, the national dance of Ukraine. This dance uses movements and music which have been adapted for the theater. African drums will add to the fervor and excitement of the dancers presenting traditional west African dances. Calm and beautiful Liturgical dance will be performed by Erie city kids of the InPurpose Studios. Jennifer Dennehy and her group will perform skillful movements with hoops.

Erie’s strength lies in our rich diversity of cultures. Dance is the universal language that pervades the barriers of language and politics. This event creates a space for celebration of cultural heritages and unique identities.