Cultural Festival Excludes Asian Christian Group

A bid by the Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Christian Fellowship (HRAACF) to participate in the Feb. 20 Cultural Rhythms show has been rejected because of the religious content of the group's performance, members charged yesterday.

The group had sought to perform "body worship," a form of worship that sets hand motions to religious music. Group members describe body worship as unique to the Asian American Christian tradition.

The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, which sponsors Cultural Rhythms, calls the show "a celebration of Harvard's rich cultural and ethnic diversity."

But HRAACF members contend that their exclusion from the event goes against this commitment to diversity.

In a letter to the foundation yesterday, HRAACF executive team members Abigail L. Hing '99 and Jeffrey R. Gu '00 argued that the foundation's decision has "overlooked" the Asian American experience "as a legitimate cultural experience."

Body worship, "as a primarily Asian American expression of Christian worship, is one example of the ethnic contributions Asian Americans bring to the Western tradition," they wrote.

"While we understand and wish to honor the decision of your staff, we feel wronged by the foundation's denial of the ethnic and cultural focus of our organization," Hing and Gu wrote.

Comparing their performance to other possible performances by ethnic groups, they wrote, "Hindu and Buddhist dances tend to be viewed in Western culture primarily as ethnic dances, rather than religious. Their religiosity does not detract from the aesthetic appreciation of their performances."

Though the foundation initially invited HRAACF to participate in the show, Hing said Nana E. Coleman '98, student activities coordinator for the foundation, contacted her after the first rehearsal and told her that the group would not be performing.

"They had reviewed our performance and decided that it was inappropriate" given the religious elements of the piece, Hing said.

Coleman declined to comment on the dispute, saying that the students of the foundation approved of and were involved in the decision-making process.

"We welcome a variety of student performances," Coleman said. "We prefer to leave these matters to the students, so I wouldn't be able to elaborate on that."

Dana B. Bennett '99, one of the comanagers of the show, said the decision was made "on behalf of the show committee in collaboration with [S. Allen] Counter," who is the director of the foundation. Counter was not available for comment yesterday afternoon.

Although Bennett declined to comment on the specific rationale behind the group's decision, she said that the decisions are "not something that we take lightly."

The decisions regarding the participants inthis year's festival have already been made,Coleman said.

This is the 14th year of the Cultural RhythmsShow and Food Festival, which has featuredcultural dance, music and vocal performances bystudent groups in the past.

Members of HRAACF have discussed the disputewith Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, whocounseled them to continue their dialogue with thefoundation.

"I have encouraged the Asian [American]Christian fellowship to continue discussion withthe foundation and have suggested that they stressthe cultural and ethnic nature of the dance theywish to present,' Epps said.

But Epps said he felt the foundation had thefinal word on a group's participation.

"It is the foundation's decision. I am justtrying to facilitate further discussion," he said."Cultural Rhythms is a wonderful event and we allwant to support it, whatever their decision inthis case."

Hing compared the HRAACF performance to aspiritual or gospel piece performed by a groupsuch as the Kuumba Singers, saying that both werecultural as well as religious expressions.

"The idea that we can separate culture fromreligion is I think a very Western idea," Hingsaid. "Our hope is to be recognized as having aunique contribution to the ethnic and culturalfabric of America."

This year's Cultural Rhythms festival willinclude about 20 performance groups

The decisions regarding the participants inthis year's festival have already been made,Coleman said.

This is the 14th year of the Cultural RhythmsShow and Food Festival, which has featuredcultural dance, music and vocal performances bystudent groups in the past.

Members of HRAACF have discussed the disputewith Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, whocounseled them to continue their dialogue with thefoundation.

"I have encouraged the Asian [American]Christian fellowship to continue discussion withthe foundation and have suggested that they stressthe cultural and ethnic nature of the dance theywish to present,' Epps said.

But Epps said he felt the foundation had thefinal word on a group's participation.

"It is the foundation's decision. I am justtrying to facilitate further discussion," he said."Cultural Rhythms is a wonderful event and we allwant to support it, whatever their decision inthis case."

Hing compared the HRAACF performance to aspiritual or gospel piece performed by a groupsuch as the Kuumba Singers, saying that both werecultural as well as religious expressions.

"The idea that we can separate culture fromreligion is I think a very Western idea," Hingsaid. "Our hope is to be recognized as having aunique contribution to the ethnic and culturalfabric of America."

This year's Cultural Rhythms festival willinclude about 20 performance groups