Pacific Rhythm, a Polynesian dance troupe, takes to the stage at Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) for a free performance on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets are not needed for this performance, which is open to the public. This is the kick-off event for Teaching International (TI) 2016-17 at the campus.
Teaching International is a curriculum and campus globalization initiative. Each academic year, the campus selects a country or region and a theme as a focus for instructional and co-curricular events. The region chosen for this year is the Pacific Islands and the theme is literacy. Last year, TI focused on China, with a theme of gender.
Pacific Rhythm promotes Polynesian culture through music, dance, and authentic Island entertainment. Audiences can feel the rhythm of the Pacific through the group’s Polynesian dances from the islands of Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand, Tonga, Cook Islands, and Samoa.
What sets this group apart from other Polynesian dance troupes is that they are a group made up of a family of six – mom, dad, and four children.