Madison Reporter

Twenty-seven different student groups performed at the 42nd annual MCOR: Multicultural Student Performance Showcase event on Sept. 6 in Shannon Hall at UW–Madison’s Memorial Union. Part of the beginning-of-the-semester Wisconsin Welcome programming, the event showcased a range of dance, musical, spoken-word, stepping and strolling talent by Multicultural Student Center-affiliated student organizations and individual performers.

“I love events like this, where you can see the community come together to support each other through different genres of dances, stepping, saluting, strolling, singing, etc,” said Cheng Vang of the Alpha Pi Charter of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority. Vang added that the tradition of strolling comes from the Divine Nine, a group of historically African American fraternities and sororities. “As we stroll, we add different genres of music that represent our members. We have songs from hip-hop, K-pop, P-pop (Pinoy pop) and many more.”

Erin Caldwell, Sheng Vang, Cheng Vang and Geanessa Reglos performed as members of the Alpha Pi Charter of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority Inc. "I’ve always wanted to be a part of a performance group but was too scared to join one," Reglos said. "Being a part of the stroll team and eventually stroll captain has really helped push me out of my comfort zone and made me more confident in my dancing abilities. I always have the best time performing with my sisters on stage."

The event featured performances by various groups including members of Delta Chapter of Chi Sigma Tau National Fraternity Inc., Kappa Gamma Chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc., SEADO (South East Asian Dance Organization), Delta Delta Chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc., Fuego Dance crew, KASPER Dance Crew (a hip-hop and K-pop dance group), Associate Chapter of Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity Inc., Alpha Phi chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda National Inc., Vietnamese Student Association Dance Team performing traditional fan and straw-hat dances, Wisconsin RangDe (a recreational South Asian Fusion dance team), GPS TY (a First Wave Scholar and sophomore), Wisconsin Surma (Wisconsin’s Competitive Premier Bollywood Fusion Dance Team), and African Student Association Dance members who concluded the night.

Over 1,100 people attended the event and cheered on enthusiastically.