Dare 2 Be Real cultivates a culture of belonging at Eden Prairie High School

This was it — the final performance of the day. Eden Prairie High School students bustled around the dimmed Main Gym, their colorful sequined clothing sparkling in the colored stage lights. Student spectators were beginning to gather outside the doors, excited for a chance to see their friends — and their heritages — on display. For the third time that April Friday, the gym had been transformed into a global stage, where students from backgrounds from around the world came together to dance, sing and walk in a fashion show, all in celebration of their roots. This was Culture Day at EPHS, the culmination of a week full of activities, displays and learning opportunities about international cultures. And this was the last performance of the day — and, likely, the one with the largest audience.

The doors opened and students and staff filed in, filling the bleachers. Smiles were everywhere, and hands shot up throughout the space, waving across the stands to friends and classmates. Enthusiasm swelled in the room, and the crowd took a few moments to quiet down as the show began.

Associate Principal Lomumba Ismail took the microphone. Throughout the week, he said, “EPHS students showed that celebrating culture, recognizing beliefs [and] differences… is important and makes us feel that we belong.” EPHS was a special place, he explained, “if each student can come into the school as their authentic self.”

Culture Day was organized by Dare 2 Be Real, a student leadership group that works to educate and engage with staff and fellow students to create a culture of belonging. Culture Day had existed in many forms for many years, but this year was particularly exciting: It was the first time there would be multiple performances during Culture Day, which would allow hundreds of people at EPHS the opportunity to watch the show at some point during the school day— and hear about Dare 2 Be Real.

“Looking out at this crowd, I see a bunch of different faces, and I want you guys to know that you belong at Dare 2 Be Real,” said 11th grader Zeina Barry, one of the student leaders for this year’s Culture Day. “Get hyped,” she exclaimed, “for Culture Day!”

The next hour was filled with a whirlwind of song and dance traditions from more than a dozen countries. A Korean pop dance group opened the show with a blast of energy, 11th grader Natrizkol Sanchez performed an upbeat song with a Venezuelan flag tied around her waist, and a large group of students dressed in uniform orange and black attire performed an intricate group dance — complete with prop umbrellas — from Somalia. The crowd roared with applause. 

Performance after performance followed, and the spectators delivered even more energy with each song and dance. When it was time for the fashion show, a parade of flags and colorful clothing — including from Vietnam, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago and many others — waltzed across the gym floor, students describing to the crowd what they were wearing and its role in traditional celebrations.

After a second act of more song and dance from India, East and West Africa, and Latin America, the full cast of performers flooded onto the gym floor to a booming round of applause from students. Flags flew proudly as the show members bowed and cheered. It was the final act of the week, one big celebration of belonging. Students lingered in the gym, taking photos with one another, smiling and laughing. Culture Day was over, but Dare 2 Be Real’s work cultivating — and celebrating — a culture of belonging would be ongoing.