From Pouvwa to Umoja: A Week of Culture at St. Mark’s
by Lily Oh ‘27
The week of January 19th, 2026, was a week full of cultural exchange at St. Mark’s, starting with the MLK Day performance on Monday and wrapping up with UMOJA on Friday.
The week kicked off on MLK Day with Pouvwa, a dance performance by Jean Appolon Expressions. Pouvwa means strength and resilience in Haitian Creole, and those themes came through clearly in the performance, which was powerful, emotional, and grounding. The dance represented Haiti’s history of struggle and perseverance, using movement to communicate ideas of justice across communities.
On Friday, UMOJA—a cultural celebration where students share performances connected to their backgrounds—brought the community together for an afternoon full of music, movement, and reflection. The ceremony opened with a Chilean duet by exchange students Agustina Nieto and Alex Thiermann, followed by a Bollywood dance by Divot Vallandas ‘28. Members of S.O.C.A (Sisters of Color Affinity) shared poetry by Maya Angelou, and Sherry Mi ‘26 performed a traditional Chinese dance, Ode to the Lotus. The program continued with a salsa by Los Leones, a Latinx affinity group, and a K-pop dance to NewJeans’s “Hype Boy” by ASEA (Association of Southeast & East Asian).
Later, B.L.U. (Black Lives Union) led a fun “cookout music” segment, teaching dances rooted in Black culture like the Cupid Shuffle, Cha Cha Slide, Wobble, Teach Me How to Dougie, and the Scubaaa Dance. SMSARA, our most newly formed Buddhist affinity group, featured Harry Shin ‘27, who reflected on his Buddhist mindset and cut his long hair on the stage as a symbolic act of letting go.
M.O.C.A. (Men of Color Affinity) shared an original drum performance, and the ceremony closed with a traditional lion dance celebrating the upcoming Lunar New Year, leaving the audience amazed.
What makes UMOJA meaningful every year is seeing community members step into the spotlight and share parts of who they are. The event created a moment to relax, laugh, cheer, and support one another.
Overall, the week offered a chance to slow down amid busy schedules and winter routines, encouraging the community to experience diversity as something more than an abstract idea through shared moments and artistic expression.
A huge thanks to everyone who performed and helped make UMOJA 2026 happen!
