Sahaj Datta | The Chronicle
At Mason High School (MHS), students are increasingly connecting with cultures beyond their own through travel, personal relationships, the arts and so much more. For many, these experiences have helped shape how they perceive the world and their place in it.
Junior Navya Karthick Prabhu said that for her, dance has been one of the most important ways she connects with her cultural background. Prabhu practices Bharatanatyam, a classical South Indian dance style, and said performing holds a special link to her individuality.
“The biggest thing about dance that appeals to me is the escapism of it,” Prabhu said. “As soon as you start dancing, it’s like you can put on a different face.”
Prabhu began learning dance at a young age from her mother before eventually studying at a Bharatanatyam dance school. While she’s lived in the United States for the majority of her life, she said growing up surrounded by Indian movies and music has helped deepen her relationship with the style.
“My family made sure we stayed really connected to Indian cinema and music,” Prabhu said. “Most of the songs I listen to are Tamil songs, and I love dancing to South Indian music.”
of Bharatanatyam (the songs, the attire, the dance moves) with that of western (American) culture. This
style of dance holds a specific meaning to her individuality and personal identity, and helps remind her of
her roots as she also acknowledges her place in the United States and our countries affect on her identity.
Over time, Prabhu began experimenting with combining different influences in her choreography. By creating dance videos on Instagram with her sister, she blends midwestern songs with classical dance techniques, reflecting the reality for many students growing up in multicultural environments.
“Fusion is the best way to dance it out,” Prabhu said. “Dancing to fusion music feels like honoring the cultural mixing that’s happening in the world.”
Senior Aliya Ni said her exposure to other cultures came mainly through friendships. Spending time with Indian friends introduced her to traditions and celebrations she had never experienced before.
“A lot of my main friend group was Indian, so I ended up going to Indian events [with them,]” Ni said. “I went to Garba my freshman year, my sophomore year and again this year. I’ve also been to Holi and Diwali celebrations.”
Despite growing up with different traditions, Ni said experiencing Indian cultural events has been something she enjoys because of these differences. She said many Indian celebrations emphasize large community gatherings.
“After going to all these events, it’s interesting to see how differently cultures celebrate,” Ni said. “I feel like there are so many more events in Indian culture. In my family, we mostly celebrate Chinese New Year and sometimes Mid-Autumn Festival. We don’t have as many times where everyone comes together as a community.”
Senior Swikruti Dash said her exposure to other cultures came through friendships and school events, particularly after attending a Muslim Student Association (MSA) Iftar during Ramadan and fasting for a day with her friends. Dash said that through conversations with her friends, she gained a new perspective on Islam and the role faith can play in people’s lives.
“I attended the Iftar because some of my closest friends are Muslim, and I wanted to feel close to their culture,” Dash said. “I’m Hindu, but I’m not too religious; I kind of just go with the flow, and I believe in science a lot, which shapes how I see religion.”
By participating in the fast and learning more about the meaning behind Ramadan, Dash said the experience helped her better understand both the values within Islam and the importance of being open to unfamiliar traditions.
“Fasting made me realize not to take things like food and water for granted,” Dash said. “[It also] helped me understand that religion can be something that helps you keep going when life gets difficult.”
Dash said the experience broadened her perspective on how beliefs influence people’s outlooks and daily lives. She said it also encouraged her to think more openly about perspectives different from her own.
“It’s very eye-opening to see how other cultures [and religions] think,” Dash said. “People shouldn’t be so closed off to other cultures; we can be different and still connect, and that’s a really beautiful part of life.”
Students like Prabhu, Milne, Ni, and Dash each found their own paths to cultural exchange through dance, international travel and friendships. While their experiences differ, they all said learning about other cultures can change how people understand the world.
“Interacting with cultures [other than your own] helps you have an open mind about the world,” Prabhu said. “As soon as you make a new friend that’s a little different than you, you start learning new things.”
