Thursday, February 10, 2011

Celebrate cultural diversity at the University of North Carolina Wilmington's 18^th annual Intercultural Festival (iFest) on Saturday, Feb. 12, 11a.m.-3 p.m. in the Burney Center. Artists in costume will perform the traditional music and dance of their native cultures while more than 40 exhibits showcase the rich cultural diversity of the Wilmington community.

More than 600 community members typically attend this free public event.

A new addition to iFest this year is the Intercultural Bazaar which will be held simultaneously with iFest in the Warwick Center. Bazaar attendees will be able to purchase gifts, décor, jewelry and accessories from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, while supporting fair trade. Among the global crafts and artisans will be Ten Thousand Villages, one of the world's largest fair trade organizations. Other vendors include Lativa jewelry, Ping's Tibet, Una Luna, the African Art of Charles Jones and others. Food selections from around the globe will be available for purchase on site.

IFest performance schedule:

Stage 1:

11:00-11:15 a.m. Port City Pipes & Drums - Scottish Music

11:15-11:25 a.m. St. Nicholas Romiosini Dancers - Traditional Greek Music

11:40 a.m. -12 p.m. Transtrum

12:15-12:45 p.m. Sea Pans - Caribbean Steel Drum Band

1:00-1:30 p.m. William "Paco" Strickland - Flamenco Music

2:00-2:15 p.m. Sláinte: UNCW Irish Dance Club - Traditional Irish Dance

2:30- 2:45 p.m. UNCW Ritmo Latino Dance Club - Latino Dance

 

Stage 2:

11:25-11:40 a.m. Sweet Ma Ree of Vatra Gitana & Mr. Serious of the Taqasim Tribe

Noon-12:15 p.m. Toni Gazda - Hawaiian Hula

12:45-1:00 p.m. Sonia Salvatierra - Peruvian Dance Group

1:30-2:00 p.m. Shea-Ra Nichi - Haitian Dance

2:15-2:30 p.m. The Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko

2:45-3:00 p.m. Miyagi Ryukyu Dance School

 

The event is hosted by the UNCW Office of International Programs and UNCW Presents. For more information: http://www.uncw.edu/iweek .

 

Media are also invited to attend iFest for interviews and hands-on visual opportunities.

CALL MEDIA CONTACT BELOW prior to arrival. Some areas of the festival may be dim. Media are advised to bring appropriate lighting.

Media contact:
Joy Davis, UNCW Marketing and Communications, 910.632.3903 or davisjc@uncw.edu