Austin Community College Liberal Arts – Humanities & Communications is hosting an International Festival at the Highland Learning Center this evening. The event, which is free and open to the local community, will feature a wide variety of performances including belly dancing, ballet folklórico, and a Japanese tea ceremony demonstration.
The Chair of the Foreign Language Department, Vanessa Lazo, was a key organizer who worked closely with other ACC committees, faculty and the Dean’s office. One of her roles was securing a dozen performances for the evening. “We wanted to display student and faculty talent, as well as bring in professional groups from the community to further our ties within our community and beyond,” Lazo said.
Students in the ACC Japanese club will put on a fashion show covering kimonos to anime. An ACC professor will perform with the Japanese Taiko Kagami Drum Troop. UT will showcase their Italian lyrical singers. The Austin-based Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team will perform. A professional balalaika player, Sergey Vaschenko, will perform followed by the Russian-language student he has been teaching for free for this event.
“This is the essence of what ACC is about – liaisons within the community, faculty and students,” Lazo said.
Dr. Lazo, who grew up in Ecuador, has degrees from Amherst and NYU in Spanish, German, and Portuguese as well as a PhD from UT in Foreign Language Education. Her background might reveal why the International Festival is important to her, but she thinks local attendees can get a lot from this event. “Our Austin and ACC community would learn more about all of the offerings at ACC, our language program, study abroad, international business, and make connections with professionals and individuals instrumental to development and growth,” Lazo said.
In looking at the bigger picture regarding the benefits of such events in any community, Lazo said, “If we could look at the world through a larger,
more inclusive lens that encompasses many nations, we would be able to more easily understand each other’s differences with kindness and respect.”
The International Festival will be held at Highland Learning Center, Building 4000, Lower Level, Friday, April 6, 6:00 to 8:30 PM.