International festival will highlight food, music and dance

All events are free and open to the public.

Highlights include an African dance workshop with Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on March 31 in the Benson University Center, Room 401. All events on March 31 and April 1 will be in Room 401.

That evening, the West End Mambo band will perform Latin salsa music from 9 p.m. to midnight.

The celebration concludes on April 1 with an International Festival from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday’s activities include music by the Caribbean steel drum band, Shadz, and the mariachi band Los Viajeros. The traditional dances of Africa, Ireland, China, India and Native America will be performed during the festival. Among the scheduled dancers are the Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble and the Triad Irish Dancers.

Festival participants can watch demonstrations of acupuncture and learn about Tai Chi, the art of mendhi, Japanese origami, and various Chinese arts, such as painting and calligraphy. Wake Forest’s Anthropology Museum will have cultural items on display, such as a ceramic pillow from China and musical instruments from New Zealand and Africa.

Festival participants can also sample food from West India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Greece and other countries.

Area vendors, such as the World Mission Shop, Pan African Imagery, La Carreta and the Native American Association, will set up booths during the festival.

As part of the celebration, foreign films will be shown on March 27, 28 and 29 at 9 p.m. in the Benson University Center’s Pugh Auditorium. The scheduled films are the Japanese film, “Shall We Dance”; the German film, “Run Lola Run”; and the Brazilian film,”Central Station.”

The celebration is sponsored by the Center for International Studies, the Dean’s office, the Benson University Center, the Student Union, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Career Services. For more information, call 336-758-4869 or 336-758-5255.