Medical students from the Dance Interest Group and South Asian Medical Student Association performed vivid Bollywood dances as part of Fusion, an annual student talent show.
The event showcased the diversity of the student body at Feinberg and raised money for local community clinics, including the Chinatown Clinic, Devon Clinic, Hepatitis B Alliance and New Life Volunteering Society.
“It is important to celebrate the diverse talents of the student body and our different backgrounds,” said Samaa Kemal, first-year medical student and co-producer of the show. “All of the acts are excellent and represent the pride in doing something that celebrates who they are. We volunteer in the free community clinics that assist underserved communities, so we want the proceeds of the show to benefit the neighborhoods where we spend so much of our time.”
Other co-producers of Fusion include first-year medical students Caroline Dong, Pedro Gino and Johnny Hourmozdi.
In addition to producing, Kemal participated in an African fusion dance piece featuring music from Ghana, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.
She danced with peers from the Student National Medical Association, an organization that works to address diversity in healthcare and provides opportunities to engage with local underserved communities.
Other performances included musical groups, Cuban-style salsa and a fashion show displaying trends from around the globe.
Second-year medical student Reid Johnson performed a combination of classical music and music from the film Requiem for a Dream.
“A lot of the dance groups remix traditional music with modern songs, so I decided to play an adaptive version of Requiem for a Dream,” Johnson said. “Playing piano is a huge stress relief from studying. It is nice to pursue creative endeavors and have the chance to perform for my peers and give back to the community.”
