Saturday, Feb. 28, the 2026 International Showcase will happen in The Bicknell Family Center for the Arts. The International Showcase is one of the biggest student-driven events by foreign exchange students. The first part of the showcase includes a series of performances by various groups of international students ranging from vocal performances, instrumental, or dancing.
Shreyashee Dutta is a graduate student and graduate teaching assistant in the psychology department, as well as a global performer. Dutta has performed at the International Showcase event for a few years, and plans to perform this year as well. Dutta describes the dance she will be performing a two-part dance, with the first part focusing on a style called Kathak and mixed with Indian contemporary.
The second part will be based on the Bharatnatyam, Odissi, and Kathak styles of dance. “Dancing has been a huge part of my life and sharing my passion on stage has been very meaningful to me since I was three years old,” Dutta said, describing what dancing means to her.
Favour Bassey is a graduate teaching assistant as well, but in the communications department, and will be performing a dance routine as well. Bassey will be performing an “African dance, making use of Afrobeat songs to display the African dance culture.”
Her goal in performing in the upcoming showcase is to show the people here at Pittstate “how Africa as a whole is so broad and full of colors.” Above all, she wants “the audience to enjoy the performance and see how unique and beautiful Afro dance and music is.”
Anna Biju, a junior in nursing, is an international student from India. She has gathered with several other international students from other countries to dance to a Korean pop song, otherwise known as K-pop. She said that “In this performance, we have students from different countries, like Taiwan, India, and South Korea.”
When asked what led to the group’s decision to perform to that genre of music, she said that even though it does not stand for her culture, they wanted to show unity as a group, and they all liked that genre. Biju went on to say that “Through this performance, [they] came to know more about each other and the dedication [they] have together.” Leading up to the performance, there is still some rehearsal and polishing to be done, but they are determined.
Each of the cultures that will be presented on Saturday, Feb. 28 are different, colorful, and unique. However, like Biju said, it is also to show that even though each is unique, the event is meant to show unity as people despite cultural and geographical differences. After the performances will be booths featuring food, cultural items, activities, and more from each group in attendance.