School’s Unity Week Ends With a Bang

Newport Harbor High students pounded on Japanese drums Friday to celebrate diversity in world cultures.

The drum session culminated a week of workshops, food tasting and performances geared toward shattering prejudices and heightening cultural awareness.

Students said they got the beat.

“Drumming is a language that we can all speak,” said Newport Harbor student Ethan Poli, 17, who usually drums for his rock band. “This week I really learned a lot about other cultures.”

Japanese performers explained how the taiko--the barrel-like drum made from a hollowed tree trunk--has been used for centuries by Japanese villagers as a simple form of communication. Later, one of the percussionists put on a lion costume for a shishimai, a good luck dance.

“As sansei--a third generation Japanese American--we have learned to integrate African and Latin rhythms into our Japanese styles,” said Johnny Mori, leader of the trio of drummers, who performed at the school’s gymnasium. “This country is a unique experiment in that we have all cultures here.”

International Unity Week was coordinated by high school parents Michele Silver and Diana Long with the help of the school’s student government.

“We focused on our differences, and then as a unified group we came together like a lovely melange of salad rather than like melted cheese in a pot,” Long said.

The Asian drumming styles made a good contrast to the other cultural activities that took place earlier in the week.

Students were able to hear the shrill hum of Scottish bagpipes juxtaposed against the rhythms and motions of Abalye African dancers on St. Patrick’s Day. Lunchtime on Tuesday featured cosmopolitan fare brought by students from the international club. And students were able to soak in the colors and choreographed movements of Mexican Aztec dancers on Thursday.

Loyola University cross cultural professor Erylene Piper-Mandy was the keynote speaker Friday, asking students to examine how they can begin building unity in order to make for a peaceful world.

“She wasn’t preachy, but she made us think about how we view different cultures,” said Katrina Tangen, 17, a student event organizer. “She made people think, which was the point of the week.”