Learn how to belly dance, do the”salsa,”fold origami or get a mehndi tattoo at the 16th annual International Festival from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. The festival is part of West Virginia Universitys Diversity Week celebration.

This year, students from more than 30 countriesincluding Cuba and Vietnamwill come together to share their customs and culture. There will be cultural tables, food and other items for sale and sampling.

Entertainment begins at 10:30 a.m. with folk songs from the Ukraine followed by Lebanese belly dancing, a Kendo demonstration (Japanese fencing), Brazilian Salsa, Irish Step Dancing and Irish Reel, Venezuelan Flamenco, Indian folk dancing, Balinese dancing and songs from Turkey.

Visitors can also look forward to demonstrations such as fencing and origami from Japan and mehndi (temporary hand tattooing) from India. At 6 p.m., students will dress up in traditional costumes from their homelands for a special fashion show.

Every year, the International Festival draws area school children to WVU s campus to learn about other countries and cultures. Each child receives a passport with a variety of questions. They then must go to the appropriate cultural table to have their questions answered and their passport stamped.

“This is a wonderful event which truly reflects our Universitys international diversity,”said Jennifer McIntosh, executive officer for Social Justice.”Our theme for this years Diversity Week, �€~Valuing Our Own,aptly describes the philosophy of the Social Justice office of recognizing all people for their intrinsic value and worth. It is with great pleasure that we recognize our international students.”

The festival is open and free to the public. For more information, call the Office of International Students&Scholars at 304-293-3519.