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When the Indian
fusion dance team Delaware Kamaal took to the stage at the University of
Delaware’s Festival of Nations on Oct. 13, the members began dancing to
a rhythmic Bharatanatyam classic. The music soon transitioned to a
bouncy Bollywood hit and many in the crowd started swaying. There was a
collective roar of approval as the dance team then segued into a
thumping hip hop beat.
Similar enthusiasm was shown for a K-pop band, for the UD Gospel
Choir, and for a fashion show featuring members of the UD community
modeling attire from their home countries, including Korean hanboks,
Chinese cheongsams and Omani dishdasha. One of the crowd favorites was
Adam Bentahar, 7, who modelled a Moroccan djellaba alongside his dad,
Adil Bentahar, who was sporting a Moroccan djabadour.
The Festival of Nations, sponsored by UD’s English Language
Institute, and co-sponsored this year by the Center for Global Programs
and Services, dates back more than 25 years but was not held in 2020 or
2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re so glad to be back,” said Adil Bentahar, an assistant
professor at the English Language Institute (ELI), who co-chaired the
event with Rebecca Boyle, ELI’s student life manager. Bentahar noted
that the entertainment line-up included international performers and
groups with mostly domestic students.