culture

CSA hosts annual Caribfest
By Rukayat Abiola Oloko
October 27, 2016 - 3:27pm
This year's Caribfest included a pageant, fashion show, and dance performances.

Syracuse University’s Caribbean Student Association began its celebration of its 30th year on campus with its annual Caribfest pageant and concert.

The pageant crowned Mr. and Miss Caribfest 2016 out of five Caribbean hopefuls. Contestants used the segments of the pageant to show why they deserve to represent the Caribbean Islands on the Syracuse University Campus.

Community comes together for Fiesta de Navidad
By Spencer Arbige
December 22, 2015 - 8:39pm
La Casita Cultural Center hosts a party where people of all ages can sing, dance and enjoy a hearty meal.

Michelle Cáceres smiled, her bright purple skirt swirling around her waist. Her feet moved to the beat, the notes of drums and guitars echoing through the air. Cáceres, a member of Syracuse University’s Los Raices dance troupe, was full of energy, as she danced the night away.

Rip the Runway fashion show represents variety of cultures through clothing
By Mary Anderson
October 10, 2015 - 8:12am
A student-run fashion show displayed garments based on various traditional cultures with a modern twist.

On Friday, the Rip the Runway fashion show transported students from central New York to a cultural oasis. 

As the first model sliced through the red fog and stomped onto the catwalk, the audience fell silent. Bright colors poured out onto the runway as rhythmic drums pumped through the Goldstein Auditorium.

SALT Makerspace brings maker culture to Syracuse
By Nathan McAlone
November 5, 2014 - 11:30am
Syracuse alum creates a natural space for creative thinkers to collaborate on and build original and imaginative projects.

After completing his MFA in Sculpture at Syracuse University, Michael Giannattasio was looking to regain the sense of community that came with university life. He had begun to compile tools for his own workshop, but missed the connection with other creators. Eventually this feeling led him to expand his vision of a workshop, and share both his knowledge and tools with the world by building a makerspace.

Exotic food unifies a diverse Syracuse community
By Charlene Cooper
October 6, 2014 - 12:00am
Refugees who traveled miles from their homeland to settle here celebrate their culture through exotic foods and music at a biannual food court.

The mouthwatering aroma of sourdough flatbread, garbanzo stew and lemon basil that filled the air and the vibrant sounds of live Burundian drumming made the Alibrandi Catholic Center feel like a family kitchen from some place exotic. The atmosphere was part of My Lucky Tummy’s biannual pop-up food court, where people from all over the world gathered to share a meal.

23rd Westcott Street Cultural Fair celebrates historic neighborhood
By Irfan Uraizee
September 21, 2014 - 5:00pm
A lack of sunshine couldn't dampen the storied Westcott neighborhood's unique offering of food, art and culture.

For Westcott residents and neighbors, overcast skies and a lack of sunshine couldn’t put a damper on the 23rd iteration of the Westcott Street Cultural Fair.  Despite the miserable weather, the people, food and vibrant culture of the historic Westcott neighborhood seemed to shine even brighter.

“What makes Westcott unique is the mix of different people that we have here. The energy and the activism of the neighborhood that you won’t see anywhere else,” said Marcellus resident Sondra Bromka.

Students celebrate Holi with colors
By Kartar Singh
May 2, 2014 - 4:47am
Despite the gloomy weather, people came together to commemorate the Hindu festival with bright powders.

Students didn’t let the gloomy weather stop them from lighting the sky up with a rainbow of colors on Sunday afternoon.

Students from all religions and cultures came together to celebrate Holi, a Hindu festival. While many celebrate the day for its fun atmosphere and playful background, the day also has historical significance.

SU student uses belly dance to de-stress, express herself
By Farhad Peikar
January 22, 2013 - 12:45pm
The artful Middle Eastern tradition has spread across the globe, reaching Syracuse's campus via international students.

For many, “belly-dancing” brings to mind an image of tall, Middle Eastern women undulating and twitching their hips in bars or on stages to seduce men.

Well, that stereotype has grown stale. Today, the belly dance has been adopted by nations all over the world, and is seen as more of an art form than as entertainment. In fact, it has become a favorite among the youth in the world's most populated country: China.

New Years Eve around the world
By Jingnan Li
December 31, 2012 - 3:19pm
Cultures worldwide celebrate New Years with traditions vastly different than a sparkly "ball drop" in Times Square.

New Year Eve means saying goodbye to the past year and looking forward to a fresh start. It’s a day full of wishes and resolutions, with a special meaning that varies from culture to culture. People around the world pass down deeply cultural celebratory traditions through generations, but all hope for happiness and luck in the year to come.

 

Japan

Musician's flute aids in preserving his culture and past
By Dee Lockett
September 12, 2012 - 1:32pm
Native American flute player Rob Benedict lets his passion for music guide him through his complicated life.

The cellphone rang. And rang. And rang. Suddenly and abruptly, the gentle melodic whistle of a flute began playing before being cut off by a generic voice mail greeting.

“That, that right there is Rob,” Matt Simmons, a man in his early 20s, said.

It was a cool Friday night in August as four men met at a table on the outdoor patio of Dorian’s Gourmet Pizza & Deli on Westcott Street. There was a breeze, just strong enough to carry a Native American tune through the open door and into the restaurant.