![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
After waiting for four years, the FIFA World Cup 2022 was delayed an extra four months due to the hot summer weather in the host country, Qatar. Expectedly, soccer fans all over the world are eagerly awaiting Sunday’s start of FIFA World Cup 2022.
“This World Cup will be kind of weird because they switched the time,” sophomore Rafael Lopes said. “The World Cup is supposed to be in July or June. But in Qatar, summer is crazy hot so I think that it shouldn’t be there.”
Due to Qatar’s intense summer heat, this World Cup will be held from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18, making it the first tournament not to be held in May, June or July and reduced to a one-month period. The schedule also conflicts with LaLiga, which is the men’s top professional soccer division of the Spanish soccer league system that many World Cup players compete in.
“I don’t really like that it’s in Qatar because a lot of players are getting injured right now since it’s mid-season of their leagues,” said senior Elvin Xiloq, who is rooting for both Mexico and Argentina, although they are competing in the same group stage.
Although some students like Lopes and Xiloq do have concerns that the World Cup is being held in Qatar, others are just excited to see the World Cup. And with such big events, there is always an occasion for a party.
“Every time when there is a game, we all go to my aunt’s house,” junior Elizabeth Garcia said. “My whole family is over there and we’re all just having a blast watching the games. We all bet money on a team and whoever wins, wins all the money. We all root for different teams because no one can bet for the same team. And I’m going for Argentina.”
Many families also have traditions that are alike no matter the cultural differences. Sophomore Ronaldo Aguilar also celebrates the World Cup with a barbecue while cheering on Portugal, eager for Cristiano Ronaldo’s victory.
“I go to my uncle’s house and we have a carne asada and sometimes after the games, we go play soccer to blow off some steam because when we watch soccer, we get really energetic,” sophomore Aguilar said.
Lopes, who recently moved from Brazil, anticipates that the younger generation on the Brazilian official team will elevate it to the finals. Though he is very confident in Brazil winning this World Cup, his second choice is Portugal as his father’s family and favorite player Ronaldo are from there.
“In Brazil, we have a really big culture related to the World Cup because all the countries watch it,” Lopes said. “I used to meet with my friends and watch it, have a barbecue and after we play soccer because when we watch it, we want to play like them. It’s a party for us.”
This story was originally published on The Pearl Post on November 18, 2022.
