What is World Day for Cultural Diversity and Dialogue?
Join us on Thursday, May 22 to recognise the United Nations (UN) World Day for Cultural Diversity and Dialogue (WDCDD).
Here at UQ, UQ Wellbeing and the UQU International Collective will be recognising WDCDD at the St Lucia campus with a community-wide event on May 22nd. This celebration will be bringing together multiple elements of cultures and traditions from various cultural groups. There will be activities and workshops introducing you to different cultures, languages, traditions and lifestyles, so don't miss this opportunity to celebrate and appreciate the multiculturalism and diversity across the UQ community!
Venue: The Great Court, St. Lucia
Time: To be confirmed. Please check back for more updates.
Attendance is free for all community members, including UQ students, UQ staff, UQ alumni and non-UQ community members. All attendees are encouraged to wear their traditional dress.
Want to participate as part of WDCDD?
This event is proudly supported by Allianz Care Australia and the Queensland Government
Highlights of 2024 Program
The UQ Community is uniquely diverse,
with over 55,000 students (2022),
of which around 20,700 are
international students from 137 countries
Past Performances (2024 Program)
Our cultural stage will showcase cultural performances through music and dance from across the UQ community, including students, staff and alumni.
(Please note: The following program is from 2024. Please check back later for the 2025 program)
| Time | Performance | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 12 to 1.15pm | Event Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country | By UQ Wellbeing |
| Part 1: Live Performances | MCs: Nancy Wang & Xavier Sun (IMG & HaSS) | |
| Gatut Sudarjanto from Viva Lestari Indonesia dance group | The Indonesian Masked Dance describes a King who acts with an expressive movement to show gestures of a man in love and trying to get his beloved’s heart. Unfortunately, his love is rejected, and he can no longer hide the feeling and shows his bad temper by stomping, dashing around, being angry, and laughing out loud arrogantly. | |
| UQ Chinese Students and Scholars Association Pentatonic Orchestra | Chinese traditional music | |
| Tarpuy | Peruvian folklore dancing group | |
| Colombian Dance Group Queensland | Colombian traditional dance | |
| Bolivia Marka Dance Group | Traditional folkloric dances indigenous to Bolivia.
| |
| UQ Chinese Students and Scholars Association Dance Magnetic Troupe (UQCSSA DMT) | Chinese folk dances - Looking to the homeland from afar The performance showcases China’s rich cultural diversity through folk dances representing various ethnic groups. Mongolian dances depict strength, Tibetan dances reflect plateau life, and Korean dances honor their totem, the crane. Together, these dances express love for the homeland. | |
| UQ Ventures Dance | Dance 1 - Staff Dance 2 - Students | |
| Brisbane Chinese Dance Community and UQCSSA DMT | Chinese classical dance - Yin and Yang. The performance showcases the ancient Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang through dance. Dancers in black represent Yin, while those in white symbolise Yang. The choreography illustrates their interdependence, showing how opposites complement and balance each other in a captivating display of movements. | |
| Part 2: Panel Discussion and Official Welcome | MC: Kevan Jones | |
| 1.15 to 2.15pm | Cultural Inclusion Council Panel Discussion | Unpacking with panel members themes of culture, diversity, dialogue and development and invite you to reflect with them on these conversations during the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. |
| Official Welcome | Professor Pauline Ford, Deputy Provost at the University of Queensland. | |
| Part 3: Live Performances from UQ Student Clubs & Societies | ||
| 2.15 to 4.14pm |
| Enjoy a variety of dance and performances from your UQ Student Clubs & Societies. |
| Part 4: Live performances from UQ’S Australian Awards Scholars and the Yasodhara Sinhala and Dhamma School | ||
| 4.15 to 5pm | Ja'i dance | Ja'i dance originates from Bajawa, Flores Island, Eastern Indonesia. It is often performed at traditional ceremonies to express gratitude and joy. This dance is usually performed in the middle of the village, a sacred location and place of worship. Ja'i dance has movement characteristics, uses little space in rows, and is performed repeatedly. As a mass dance or communal dance, the beauty and allure of Ja'i lie in the uniformity and energy of the dancers. Ja'i dance is also known as a mass dance. |
| Goyang Maju-mundur | Goyang Maju-mundur is a dance that's typically done at weddings, parties, or other events where people want to have a good time. The point is to let loose, forget about stress, and bond with everyone else there. The steps are super easy, so anyone can join in on the fun. | |
| Junior Troupe - Sri Lankan Dance Foundation Brisbane | The Dance of Blessings: The Puja Dance is a traditional Sri Lankan performance aimed at seeking blessings from the Triple Gem, including the Sacred Tooth Relic. This dance tradition is deeply rooted in ancient Sri Lankan customs, where ritual music accompanies seeking blessings from the Guardian Deities of the Land. During the Puja Dance, female dancers, carrying oil lamps and flowers, skillfully offer puja through their dance to the Triple Gem and Guardian Deities. On Multicultural Diversity Day, this dance blesses foreign and local participants, Good health, longevity, and spreading love and compassion throughout the universe. Choreographed by Kaushalya Harasgama and Eshanie Thajudeen, the Puja Dance is performed by a junior troupe of the Sri Lankan Dance Foundation in Brisbane. | |
| 5pm | Close and Thank You | By UQ Wellbeing |
Dialogue
Our dialogue section will provide a space for activations and workshops that promote community awareness about the benefits of multiculturalism through intercultural dialogue. There are also workshops to allow you to reflect on yourself, your identity, language and culture.
(R): Registration is free, but required.
| Time | Activations/Workshops | Who | About |
|---|---|---|---|
Session 1: 12.30 to 1.30pm Session 2: | Languages as an Employability Superpower (R) | School of Languages and Cultures UQ | This interactive workshop will bring the UQ CALD community together to celebrate language and diversity, and to change the narrative about the value of being multilingual in modern Australia and at UQ. Register here today. |
Session 1: Session 2: | 'Who We Are' Art Workshop | Heart and Soul Sisters | Join this creative art workshop and paint a canvas of your own interpretation about who you are, your personality, beliefs and culture. |
| 12.30 to 3pm | Cultural Weaving Workshop | Aunty Jannine | Have a yarn with your peers while learning how to weave special momentos from Aunty Jannine, to bring home for yourself or as a gift to others. |
| 12 to 4.30pm | Pastoral Dialogue Bench | Multi-faith Chaplaincy | Students are welcomed to chat about their wellbeing in their emotional and spiritual space, in an open and friendly setting. Free snacks will also be provided. |
| 12 to 5pm | Maypole Dancing | Belswagger Morris Dancers | Come learn to dance Maypole! A pan-European tradition of uncertain origin, Maypole dancing is simple, yes, fun. Learn a handful of basic English Maypole dances to live traditional music. |
Food Trucks
| Bimm's BBQ Chargrill | Filipino street food |
| Cairo Eatery | Vegan Egyptian food |
| Djakarta Eat Indonesian | Indonesian street food |
| Dumplings Master | Chinese dumplings |
| Nanaya Brisbane | Matcha and sweets |
Come early to receive a $5 food truck voucher! (Note: Vouchers are limited to the first 500 students and 1 voucher per student.)