Soon after the 2026 Winter Olympics concluded, the world (at least on the MICDS campus) came together again for the biennial International Expo. The Expo, for one night, serves as a local, global village that celebrates the cultural knowledge, history, and diversity of our students, parents, faculty, and staff. The event aims to inspire compassion, connection, and respect while strengthening bonds within the MICDS community.
Families and friends began the evening in Brauer Auditorium, where students in the beloved Parade of Cultures processed down both aisles. Students of all ages, wearing traditional cultural clothing from various countries, waved flags along the way and assembled on the stage for a vibrant display of our global community.
Several performances unfolded from around the world, including:
- Chinese Lion Dance by members of our US Lion Dance Club: Cade Miller ’26, Oscar Sun ’26, Lucas Cheng ’27, Milton Duckworth ’27, Isaac George ’27, Michal Kenigsberg ’27, Bella Froedge ’28, and Nolan Ma ’28
- Traditional Cuban Dances of Rumba, Salsa, & Punto Guajiro by Grace Griffin ’27
- Indian Bhangra Folk Dance by Maahi Saini ’27
- Spanish Vocal Performance of Nunca es Suficiente by Jennifer Salazar-Estrada ’29
- French Ballad Voilà by Isabelle Cox-Garleanu ’26
- Mexican Ballet Folklórico, El Son del al Negra, and El Jarabe Tapatío by Natalia W. ’35 and Anna Maria W. ’37
- Irish Step Dancing by Carrie Clennan ’26, Kate Riley ’26, and Rowan Wright ’27
- Indian Bollywood Dance with Aanya Handa ’26, Shaan Patel ’26, Aparna Paturu ’26, and Amey Parwal ’27
After the performances, all guests strolled down a global flag-lined path to the Upper School McDonnell Gymnasium, where the Expo awaited. Long demonstration tables lined the gym, decorated with colors, cultural artifacts, and adornments from a multitude of countries. And then there was the food! Milk chocolates from Brazil, beef and mushroom stew from Kenya, caramel meringues from Chile, traditional sweet corn beverages from Perú, chocolate drinks from Austria, and delicacies from Malaysia, Spain, Türkiye, China, Vietnam, and so much more.
Students and parents staffed the event, all eager to share their cultural heritage and customs. Guests wove in and out of the tables, getting their Expo “passports” stamped, learning about traditions, and sampling treats at nearly every stop. The entertainment continued onstage in the gym with a Chinese Diabolo Yo-Yo workshop, Spanish Sevillanas Dancing, and Indian Bhangra Folk Dancing.
Director of Global Learning Erin Hamill said, “The Expo is a long-standing tradition that beautifully showcases the many cultures that make our school community so special. We simply provide the space for our student ambassadors and performers to share their heritage, and they fill the event with vibrant colors, passion, and joy.
“The heart of the Expo lies in the connections made: families in traditional clothing sharing stories and traditions, students of all ages and from all backgrounds embracing new skills like the Chinese Yo-Yo and cultural dances, and our ambassadors proudly teaching as children collect stamps in their passports. It is a powerful and heartwarming occasion to champion our school’s diversity, deepen our understanding of one another, and strengthen the ties that bind us together.”
Many thanks to Hamill and Sydney Brockman, Associate Director of Events, for their invaluable help in coordinating the International Expo. And of course, much gratitude to our wonderful performers and our Expo booth volunteers for their impressive displays and interesting facts, as well as the many parent and student event volunteers who assisted with setup, cleanup, and support of all parts of the program. Your enthusiasm is inspiring and encourages us all to celebrate and share our community’s cultural knowledge and diversity by embracing all with compassion, respect, and dignity.
Below and in this program is a list of all countries represented at the 2026 MICDS International Expo:
| Argentina | Ghana | Panama |
| Austria | Hong Kong | Perú |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | India | Poland |
| Brazil | Ireland | Romania |
| Bulgaria | Italy | South Africa |
| Canada | Japan | South Korea |
| Chile | Kenya | Spain |
| China | Lebanon | Taiwan |
| Czech Republic | Malaysia | Türkiye |
| Dominican Republic | Mexico | USA |
| Finland | Morocco | Vietnam |
| France | Nigeria | Zambia |
| Germany | Pakistan |
Thank you to all who traveled the world with us last Friday!