A spectacle of epic proportions caught the eye and grabbed the attention of the masses at Greater Shepparton Secondary College on Friday, March 17.
Kicking off Harmony Week celebrations early, students of all cultures took to the stage to perform traditional dances from a range of nations.
It was the first occasion the entire student population had performed in one all-singing, all-dancing affair — and it did not disappoint.
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Moving and shaking: Jacques Safari, Jolie Florence and Jenifer Ester. Photo by Kelly CarmodyImage 2 of 6
Cultural showcase: Cody Fairless wows the crowd. Photo by Kelly CarmodyImage 3 of 6
Native pride: Dance was a well-received aspect of Harmony Day. Photo by Kelly CarmodyImage 4 of 6
Perfect performance: Masoka Fataki and Juliana Safari. Photo by Kelly CarmodyImage 5 of 6
Great day out: Plenty were in attendance for the Harmony Day event. Photo by Kelly CarmodyImage 6 of 6
Spoken word: Students performed a variety of cultural acts at the event. Photo by Kelly CarmodyHips swivelled, feet pounded and emotions flared, as students were able to don dresses from their ‘home’ nations and perform to their peers.
Noran Haroun, from the Darfur region of Sudan, said Harmony Day was a great opportunity to exhibit her culture in front of an accepting audience.
“Harmony Day means all cultures coming together and supporting one another and to see how other people’s cultures are,” she said.
“We’re performing what it means to us and representing our culture by the moves we do and by holding up our flag. Our culture comes with peace and with pride.
“I feel really proud because I love where I come from — I love my country, I love my people.
“It’s really amazing that we get to show it off — that’s the best thing about it.”
Leading the troupe for the Pasifika group was Sharon Simaika of Samoa, who indicated the significance of the event was hard to put into words.
“There’s no way to describe it other than being grateful for the opportunity to showcase our culture,” she said.
“Sometimes opportunities like that are taken for granted, so we want to show off our culture and make our ancestors happy.
“At the end of the day we’re all coming together as one, we’re all supporting each other’s cultures — no judgment, no criticism, all love and support.”
Principal Barbara O’Brien said the day was a memorable one, acknowledging the melting pot of culture shared across the Goulburn Valley through dance, song and parade.