BOONE—Blowing Rock School is hosting a “World Cultures Day” on Friday, Dec. 4, from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.  Students from grades 1-8 will have the chance to engage in conversations with and view presentations by Appalachian State University students and faculty from Azerbaijan, China, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, South Africa and Yemen.

“World Cultures Day” is a collaboration between Blowing Rock School and AS-U-GO, Appalachian’s Global Outreach Program, housed in the Office of International Education and Development.

Blowing Rock School third grade teacher Susan Walker is the site coordinator for the event.

Included in this day will be a participatory performance for students by EYA a local African drumming and dance troupe led by music instructor Shawn Roberts from Appalachian.  EYA will perform traditional and contemporary music and dances from Africa.

The performance will begin with Kuku, a lively celebratory dance from Guinea and Ivory Coast, featuring the popular djembe and large djun‐djun drums.  Following will be Yankadee and Macru from Guinea and Sierra Leone that will feature the West African xylophone or balafon. EYA introduces the gungon and luna drums while accompanying dancers performing the Bamaya, a dance from Ghana’s  Dagbamba people performed at the beginning of the rainy season. Students will help perform Kpatsa, a social dance of the Dangme people, also from Ghana.

AS-U-GO works to engage members of the local and campus community in cultural learning exchanges  and enhances and complements state curriculum mandates related to global awareness.

Through these face-to-face cultural interactions, AS-U-GO strives to inspire children to explore other world cultures, learn other languages, and consider possibilities of future education, travel or work abroad.

For schools interested in hosting a “World Cultures Day,” contact asugo@appstate.edu .  For more information, visit http://www.international.appstate.edu/outreach/asugo.php.

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