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Omo Naija x the Wahala Boys: Harvard Undergraduate African Dance Troupe members dressed in custom pieces by International fashion Designer Catarina Abreu, LLeya P, that reflect her Cape Verdean heritage. Photo by Sabrina Debrosse.
Harvard Foundation Celebrates 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Festival
The Harvard Foundation celebrated the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Festival with a weeklong celebration of culture, fashion, cuisine, arts, and community at Harvard from Monday, March 30, 2026 to Saturday, April 4, 2026.
Centered on the theme, “Bridges Through Time: 40 Years of Cultural Exchange,” Harvard’s largest and oldest cultural festival honored the student organizers and performers who shaped Cultural Rhythms into one of the College’s most anticipated traditions. Cultural Rhythms Co-Coordinators, Amber Nolazco-Torres ’26 and Jason Coreas ’27, alongside Harvard Foundation staff and student workers, organized the Cultural Rhythms Fashion Show, Food Festival, and Showcase, bringing together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members to celebrate the diversity of experiences and traditions on campus.
The Fashion Show
The festival began on Monday, March 30, with the third annual Cultural Rhythms Fashion Show featuring cultural dress and traditions from around the world. Garments included the Vietnamese áo dài, the tiered Diné (di-neh) velveteen dress from the Navajo Nation, and the classic Korean hanbok, each reflecting distinct cultural histories and practices. Local fashion designer Catarina Abreu (LLeya P.) presented ten custom designs worn by Harvard College undergraduates that drew on her Cape Verdean heritage. The evening highlighted fashion as a meaningful way to express culture, history, and personal narratives with the broader community.
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Aaliyah Decker ‘26 walking the runway at the Cultural Rhythms Fashion Show wearing a jingle dress inspired by Indigenous cultures. Photo by Sabrina Debrosse.
Chanho Lee ‘29 walking the runway at the Cultural Rhythms Fashion Showin a hanbok, commonly worn during Korean holidays like Lunar New Year (Seollal), Mid-Autumn Festival (Chuseok), weddings, and cultural and ancestral sites. Photo by Sabrina Debrosse.
All Harvard students who walked the runway at the Cultural Rhythms Fashion Show and showcased their cultural fashion. Photo by Sabrina Debrosse.
Caitlyn Gonzalez ‘28 (left) showcasing her Vestido De Flores dress from Mexico and Elizabeth Mou ‘28 (right) showcasing her Lawa from South Sudan at the Cultural Rhythms Fashion Show. Photo by Sabrina Debrosse.
The Food Festival
The celebration continued with the Cultural Rhythms Food Festival on Friday, April 3 in Harvard Yard, which drew more than 600 Harvard College community members and featured 26 student organizations who shared cuisines from around the world. A performance by Undergraduate Mariachi Véritas de Harvard, along with yard games and a photo booth, helped create an atmosphere of connection, joy, and cultural exchange. “I loved seeing Harvard Yard come alive for the Food Festival,” Nolazco-Torres said. “It was especially meaningful to expand our reach and fund more student organizations, including groups that had never participated before, like the Russian-Speaking Association, the Harvard Undergraduate Azerbaijani Society, and the Harvard Undergraduate South Slavic Society. It was fulfilling to see my culture represented with a performance by Mariachi Veritas and see the yard light up with joy."
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A group of students from the Harvard Radcliffe Chinese Student Association at the Cultural Rhythms Food Festival. Photo by Sabrina Debrosse.
A group of students from the Harvard College Afghan Student Association with Harvard Foundation Assistant Director Lina Tori Jan at the Cultural Rhythms Food Festival. Photo by Sabrina Debrosse.
A group of students enjoying the Cultural Rhythms Food Festival. Photo by Sabrina Debrosse.
A group of students from the Harvard Undergraduate Azerbaijani Society tabling at the Cultural Rhythms Food Festival. Photo by Sabrina Debrosse.
A group of students from the Harvard Undergraduate Dominican Students Association tabling at the Cultural Rhythms Food Festival. Photo by Sabrina Debrosse.
The Showcase
The week concluded with the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Showcase, which featured performances in music, dance, and storytelling by The Kuumba Singers of Harvard College, Harvard Undergraduate Asian American Dance Troupe, Sharon Cheng, Candela Latin Dance Troupe, Harvard Undergraduate Philippine Forum, Harvard College Steelpan Ensemble, Harvard Undergraduate Bhangra, Undergraduate Mariachi Veritas de Harvard, Harvard RAZA Ballet Folklórico, and Omo Naija x the Wahala Boys Harvard Undergraduate African Dance Troupe. “My favorite part of coordinating the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms was leading rehearsals at Sanders Theatre, ” Coreas said “Seeing all the performances come to life with the right lighting and formations was exhilarating!”
The evening honored Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph as the 2026 Cultural Impact Award recipient. The award recognized an artistic career spanning more than forty years, and her advocacy through the DIVA Foundation, which promotes HIV/AIDS awareness, health equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and the empowerment of women and girls. In conversation with Nolazco-Torres and Coreas, Ralph reflected on her journey in the entertainment industry, the significance of her role in Abbott Elementary, the importance of believing in oneself, and her experiences as a mother, wife, daughter, and cast member.
“The greatest way to spend your life is becoming a better you, because the better you are to yourself is the best you can be to everyone else,” Ralph stated. “Be good. Be kind. Share that with other people, because we are living in times where people need better from each other.”
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Cultural Rhythms Co-Coordinators Amber Nolazco-Torres ‘26 and Jason Coreas ‘27 applauding Cultural Impact Award Honoree Sheryl Lee Ralph while she is holding up her plaque at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Show. Photo by Shaun Cunningham.
Singers from the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College performing at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Show. Photo by Shaun Cunningham.
Dancers from Omo Naija x The Wahala Boys: Harvard Undergraduate African Dance Troupe performing at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Show. Photo by Shaun Cunningham.
A dancer from Harvard RAZA Ballet Folklorico performing at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Show while Undergraduate Mariachi Veritas de Harvard performs in the background. Photo by Shaun Cunningham.
Musicians from Undergraduate Mariachi Veritas de Harvard performing at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Show. Photo by Shaun Cunningham.
Dancers from the Harvard Undergraduate Asian American Dance Troupe performing at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Showcase. Photo by Shaun Cunningham.
Dancers from Harvard Undergraduate Bhangra performing at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Show. Photo by Shaun Cunningham.
Dancers from the Harvard Undergraduate Philippine Forum performing the traditional Filipino dance “Sayaw sa bangko” (“Dance on a Bench”) at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Show. Photo by Shaun Cunningham.
Sharon Cheng ‘28 singing a traditional Chinese song at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Showcase. Photo by Shaun Cunningham.
Members of the Harvard College Steelpan Ensemble performing at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Showcase. Photo by Shaun Cunningham.
Together, the events of the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Festival highlighted the breadth of cultural expression on campus and affirmed the power of community in connecting different experiences and perspectives.
