Polynesian dancers perform at the Multicultural Festival in the Hughes-Trigg Commons Thursday evening. (Spencer J Eggers/The Daily Campus)

Shimmying belly dancers, beats of African drums and the aroma of an international cuisine filled the Hughes-Trigg commons for it’s first Multicultural Festival.

Leila Mustafa, SMU junior and president of the Middle Eastern Student Association said that the mission behind the event was to promote socialization among students of all cultures.

“Since this is the first year, we really just wanted to come together and share the food and culture of each association represented,” she said.

The Multicultural Festival was planned and executed by six of SMU’s student groups including: the African Student Association, Asian Council, College Hispanic American Students, French Club, Middle Eastern Student Association and the Dance Student Association.

With help from SMU’s Evening Programs Initiatives Contributions (EPIC), the festival featured an extensive buffet of authentic food from over 10 restaurants.

EPIC is a program that supports student-run late night programs that promotes safe and responsible social interaction and behavior on and around the college campus.

SMU senior Samira Abderahman, member of the African Student Association, dressed in an embellished African women’s dress called “habesha kamees” in spirit of her Ethiopian nationality.

Abderahman said that she was most impressed by the level of diversity at the festival and how everyone’s efforts came together to create a genuinely fun-filled evening.

“I am very excited to see the African drummers perform and the Indian dancing of SMU’s RAAS dance team,” she said.

Some students piled into a swarming line for free food while others made their way into the commons area decorated with flashing lights.

Traditional Arabic music blared through the speakers with occasion mixes of hip-hop and Indian tunes.

Students who passed by stopped to catch a glimpse of the action taking place on the dance floor.

Many of them dropped their bags and joined in themselves.

Bianca Cortez, social chair of the League of United Latin American Citizens said that the event turnout was more than expected.

“It’s great to see how many people are included in this event,” she said.

The League of United Latin American Citizens is the largest

Latino civil rights and advocacy group in the United States.

It works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans from every region looking for freedom and an honest way of life.

“It makes me happy to see such a diverse group of students enjoying themselves together,” Cortez said. “The turnout could not be better.”Students weren’t the only ones enjoying themselves at the festival. Faculty, alumni and local Dallas residents came to support the event.

Recent SMU graduate Tony Sanders came by after hearing the hype from some of his friends.

“I decided to stop by just to see what’s going on,” he said. “I’m anxious to see the African drummers.”

SMU’s student body is primarily made up of Caucasian Americans, 74 percent, but there is a significant amount of African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanics to be accounted for.

Shervin Taheran, SMU junior and member of the Middle Eastern Student Association, said the festival felt very authentic. Taheran showcased her own dance moves as a representative for the SMU ballroom team.

“The night turned out great,” she said. “It was everything we expected and more.”