Dances ranging from Chinese fan dancing to Mexican salsa dancing were only part of this year's Encompass show at the Michigan Theater Friday night, which brought together the traditions of a wide variety of ethnic and cultural groups represented on campus.

"I came to get a taste of different cultures through dance and music," Rackham student and first-time Encompass attendee Souzan Naser said.

Encompass was founded four years ago by a group of students who noticed a lack of interaction among the different ethnic and cultural groups at the University.

"The founding members wanted to create an avenue for students of various backgrounds to really come together, to get to know each other and to find common ground amidst their differences," Encompass coordinator and LSA sophomore Christen Chen said.

That avenue became the Encompass Show, an eclectic showcase of dance, music and songs originating from around the world.

The theme for this year's show, "Our Culture, Our World," was embodied by a total of 12 performances by different groups, representing a variety of ethnicities.

"We try to include as many different cultures as possible in the show," Chen said.

The evening began with a group of jazz dancers who set the stage for the a capella ensemble, 58 Greene. The singing was followed with a Persian dance which displayed a mix of traditional and modern Persian culture.

Eastern and Western dance elements were incorporated in an act portraying the culture of Filipino-Americans, where students performed both the traditional Filipino dance, pandanngo sa ilaw - or dance of light, followed by modern hip-hop dance.

Though the dances originated in many countries, Encompass Show participants do not need to belong to the ethnic group whose dance they were performing.

"This is one way we hope to bring together students who would not normally get the opportunity to interact with each other due to their cultural differences," Chen said.

Interspersed throughout the show were video clips displaying the importance of multiculturalism in relation to the events of Sept. 11.

"Although racism is still alive in society, there is still hope for the future if people make the effort to understand and appreciate each other's unique cultures," Chen said.

"It is all the more important that we unite as one in the face of events culminating from September 11," Encompass co-chair and LSA senior Alissa Newman said.