“The dumplings always go first,” remarked one student as he dashed from booth to booth filling up his plate.

Dumplings seemed to be the only thing that the fifteenth annual International Night, Wed. March 9, lacked. From delicious food to a beautiful fashion show and exemplary performances, the night was not one to miss.

The evening started out with a bang as the cafeteria filled with the scent of yuka cakes from Indonesia, spundekas dip from Germany, beef steamed buns from China and much more. Over 15 booths, each representing a different country, offered various treats and exotic flavors that gave students a transformative experience.

As chatter in dozens of languages filled the air and stomachs grew increasingly full, the crowd headed to the auditorium to watch the fashion show. Outfits from five continents and over 30 countries awed audience members as silk and sparkles swished and sashayed across the stage.

“The fashion show was my favorite because you got to see how each country dresses compared to the United States,” said sophomore Vimathi Gummalla. “I think [International Night] is a great for people that aren’t really familiar with all these countries. It shows them a different experience if they can’t travel.”

After the models took their bows, the performances began. The Bollywood Dance Troupe, featuring Sonali Gupta and Cara Fried, kicked off the night with a stellar performance that fused Bollywood dance, hip hop and belly dancing.

“Bollywood is super professional, but you can make it your own. I can combine the two worlds,” Gupta said, referring to her cultural identity as American and Indian.

The first act featured a Turkish traditional line dance and a French translated and rearranged version of “All of Me” by John Legend.

A feeding frenzy bridged the acts: intermission offered an array of international desserts which were quickly devoured.

The talent in the second act was just as diverse and skillful, including a traditional Chinese fan dance, an Irish dance and a Japanese ensemble performance. The Breakdance Club, whose members are from different countries, shined as usual as they popped and locked themselves into an exciting grand finale.

Participants paid five dollars at the door to raise money for Save the Children, an international organization that works to improve kids’ lives around the world. The night truly highlighted the cultural diversity and talents of the Whitman community.

Freshman Francesca Pellegrino is an ESOL student from Italy who helped fundraise with collection jars. She said that raising money for this cause added meaning to an event she loves.

“We want to show what we have to do because many people underestimate us because we don’t speak perfect English and we have accents,” said Pellegrino. “They don’t think that we are more than our accents, but here, they can see our cultures and what we can do.”