Ethan Taylor performs at last year’s Festival of Cultures. (File photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

This will be the fourth year of an inimitable program created for and performed by children. The Festival of Cultures—an idea cultivated by Hildreth Elementary School (HES) parents Deb Barton, Naomi Yano, and Devika Kommineni—was designed to celebrate the diversity that exists in Harvard.

Barton explained in a recent interview why they felt compelled to bring it to fruition. "One of the founders wanted to make sure that all the presentations were authentic and accurate in order to dispel stereotypes of hers and other cultures," she said. "Her son came home one day upset that his teacher was teaching false information about his country of origin. The other mother, who had adopted children from India, wanted to offer a setting for her daughter and others to showcase their talents in native and traditional dance and the like. Overall, we wanted all kids to feel immense pride in their heritage."

Barton said that, as a white mother of white children, living in a small New England town, she wanted to expand her children's views of the greater world. "It is so important for children and adults to see how the rest of the world lives day to day," she said.

To achieve this, the organizers plan different themes from year to year, showing some simple aspect of each culture, such as how to say hello or what kids eat for breakfast. This year's theme is "Celebrations Around the World."

"Once a child sees the native dress, and interesting foods, or that kids in different cultures like similar things, like soccer or baseball, then they don't seem so different to them," Barton said. "These interactions are so important to our kids because it promotes tolerance and respect, rather than the isolation, hatred, and fear that ignorance of cultures can establish."

Dancers from Angel Performance Arts perform at last year’s Festival. (File photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

Families will begin the celebrations-themed evening with a tour of vignettes that display nationally distinct items related to weddings, festivals, ceremonies, and religious holidays. "Ambassadors" representing 10 nations guide visitors around the world, where they explore the unique cultural traditions. Along the route, kids can get their "passport" stamped at each stop and participate in craft projects native to the particular regions.

Logistical issues and allergies prohibit food from being served that night. However, a silent auction of donated ethnic foods will take place simultaneously with the festivities. Bidding offerings include Japanese rice balls, Indian, Mediterranean, and African feasts. Winning bidders will have food delivered directly to their homes at a mutually agreed upon time, and in some cases the delivery will be accompanied by ethnic music.

The proceeds from the auction are used to support the Festival of Cultures, since there is no admission charge. After globe-trotting, visitors move to the HES cafetorium to enjoy an array of performances. A few of the talented acts include Irish dancing, Korean song, Chinese yo-yo, and African drumming. Many of the performers are siblings, and at least one member of every group is from Harvard.

Tom Foote and his Rhythm Kids have been performing at the event for the last two years. Foote, an award-winning musician and global traveler, teaches families interactive drumming techniques from regions such as Guinea and West Africa.

"This is a fantastic event!" says Foote. "Kids get the chance to give back to their community and perform for their peers. It lets them see there is a whole big world out there with unique experiences. The best part is that it can all come together right here in Harvard. That's what learning is all about."

This year the HES Student Art Exhibition will open in conjunction with the Festival of Cultures. HES art teacher Cynthia Harris has been working with her students grade-by-grade to reproduce art techniques native to the countries represented at the festival. Each grade completed a different project. For example, the entire fifth-grade class created African masks, and the third-graders designed Hindu mandalos. All student art will be on display throughout the hallways and foyers that evening.

Harris sees the art exhibit as an opportunity for children who are not necessarily from a multicultural background to contribute to the event. "Art in any culture is inspirational," she says. "It expands their horizons. I display world maps in my classroom so I can show them where what we are working on comes from. It's not the same as visiting a country, but it's the next best thing."

Third-grade student Caroline Mara agrees. "I love the Festival of Cultures and the art exhibition because we get to walk in their shoes and pretend to be them," she says. "It's fun. I've learned a lot, too. I think it is neat how dance is so important to the Indian culture and how beautiful it is."

The Festival of Cultures is open to the public free of charge and takes place on Friday, March 11. The first part of the evening, from 6 to 7:15 p.m., will be in the gymnasium; the second part will take place from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the cafetorium.

For more information contact Deb Barton at deb.barton@mac.com or visit the Festival of Cultures website at http://web.me.com/deb.barton/Festival_of_Cultures/Welcome.html.