Saud Almadhi stretches his hands toward the ceiling clapping, shaking and shimmying to the upbeat Eastern music echoing throughout Driscoll Ballroom.

A group of Almadhi’s fellow Arab friends, wearing white robes and red keffiyehs, join him by stomping their feet to the rhythm of drums while laughing and cheering.

Almadhi was one of 2,000 people who danced and sang during the 23rd annual Festival of Nations, the largest student-run event on campus. This year’s music theme was the main attraction and African, Chinese and Brazilian dancers performed.

“You don’t have to know the language to understand the beauty of music,” said Idie Si, International Student Organization co-president. “Music draws people together despite our cultural differences, which is really what Festival of Nations is all about.”

Almadhi, who left Saudi Arabia eight months ago to study in the U.S., said the festival is a chance to celebrate the Arab culture. “It’s an opportunity to correct the stereotype of our culture. People think Saudi Arabia is just the desert or everyone lives in tents.” He continued, “We really are a modern country.”

“Our goal is to promote our culture,” said Thuy Dam, Vietnamese Student Association vice president. Member Hong Vo added that the festival is “a way to expose ourselves among other groups.” Dam moved to the States from Vietnam nine years ago with her family. She said her family has always had dual culture roles because her father fought on the American side of the Vietnam War. Dam said her family keeps traditional Vietnamese roots at home, but immerses herself in American culture at school.

Community member Amarjot Dhami came to the festival to try to interact with other Indians. “I don’t know many Indians here,” she said. Dhami recently moved from India to Colorado to do research.

“The lifestyle is different here. You are completely on your own,” she explained. In India, Dhami relies on community and family support with tasks like cooking, working and chores. “Life is much more individualistic here.”

Driscoll Ballroom as well as Driscoll Bridge thronged with visitors who stopped at booths to sample various ethnic dishes and learn about new cultures.

“Our future goal for the festival would be to increase the diversity of booths,” Si said. “We have significant representation from Asia and the Middle East, some from other cultural groups such as the Latino Student Alliance and the Native Student Alliance. However, we are really lacking European representation.”