Star Will Smith Gets Jiggy on Sanders Stage

When Vivian Gonzalez '99 agreed to dance at Saturday's Cultural Rhythms festival, she didn't anticipate gettin' jiggy wit' Will Smith.

But Gonzalez found herself in a pas de deux with Smith, the show's host, when he joined in the Persian Society's traditional "bandari" dance on the Sanders Theatre stage.

To the delight of the packed house, Smith--a two-time Grammy winner and an accomplished comedian and actor-- showcased his many talents during the cultural show, part of an annual celebration of Harvard's cultural diversity.

Smith was honored as Cultural Artist of the Year at the festival, which was sponsored by The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations.

The show featured acts by 16 student groups, ranging from a French rap by the French Club to a hula dance performed by Holoimua o Hawaii members. Afterwards, organizations offered tasty treats in the Science Center, including Arabian stuffed grape leaves and Chinese beef chow fun.

"It's a special day that brings together the Harvard family," said S. Allen Counter, director of the Foundation and associate professor of neurology.

Among the performing groups was the Harvard Philippine Forum, which danced between rapidly moving bamboo poles in a style similar to double-dutch jump rope.

Fuerza Latina heated up the audience with moves that Smith described as "caliente," and stomp-style dancers from the Harvard African Students' Association thundered on stage in rubber boots.

Other groups performing were the South Asian Dance Organization, the Hellenic Society, Kuumba, the Harvard Vietnamese Association, Native Americans at Harvard-Radcliffe, the Chun-Sadance troupe, Ballet Folklrico, the Society of Arab Students, the Expressions Dance Company and the Asian American Dance Troupe.

The Korean Association, the Israeli Dance Troupe, the Caribbean Club and the Brazilian Organization performed in the Science Center following the Sanders Theatre portion of the show.

Before exiting the stage, each group gave Smith a gift. The Harvard Vietnamese Society gave Smith a coneshaped straw hat, while Kuumba gave Smith and his wife Kente cloth stoles. The foundation also gave Smith a Harvard sweatshirt, which he wore during the show.

Throughout the performances, Smith joked with the audience and the performers, saying Counter had a "Don Cornelius Soul Train thing going."

He pitched in to help the black-clad students sweeping the stage between acts-noting their resemblance to "Men in Black."

When the South Asian Dance Organization tooktheir turn, Smith read from a description, whichsaid their dance represented "young coy womenwhose husbands do not appreciate their work."Smith paused and directed his next comment to hiswife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who was seated in thefront row.

"That ain't you, baby," he said, grinning asthe audience roared with laughter.

Midway through the show, Dean of the CollegeHarry R. Lewis '68 joined Counter onstage topresent Smith with the Cultural Artist of the Yearplaque.

Lewis called Smith "not just an actor but aphilanthropist and humanitarian."

Smith told festival attendees to live livesthey could be proud of by treating others the waythey would want to be treated.

"Make it a point to share your best self witheveryone you come in contact with," he said. "Findthat goodness and good things will always happen."

Smith later told The Crimson he thought animportant aspect of Cultural Rhythms is itspromotion of the awareness of varied experiences.

"The opportunity to see things that aredifferent...may spark something in you to dig alittle deeper, "he said.

Introducing Smith--whose nickname is the FreshPrince--Counter recalled all the royals who havevisited Harvard--including Prince Charles ofBritain and King Juan Carlos of Spain. Countercalled Smith the first "American royalty" to comehere.

"I'd like to thank the Harvard Foundation forchoosing such a deserving recipient," Smith joked,after the audience greeted him with a standingovation. "When I found out I was going to behonored by the Harvard Foundation, I didn't evenask why. I was just like, 'I' m there.'

When the South Asian Dance Organization tooktheir turn, Smith read from a description, whichsaid their dance represented "young coy womenwhose husbands do not appreciate their work."Smith paused and directed his next comment to hiswife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who was seated in thefront row.

"That ain't you, baby," he said, grinning asthe audience roared with laughter.

Midway through the show, Dean of the CollegeHarry R. Lewis '68 joined Counter onstage topresent Smith with the Cultural Artist of the Yearplaque.

Lewis called Smith "not just an actor but aphilanthropist and humanitarian."

Smith told festival attendees to live livesthey could be proud of by treating others the waythey would want to be treated.

"Make it a point to share your best self witheveryone you come in contact with," he said. "Findthat goodness and good things will always happen."

Smith later told The Crimson he thought animportant aspect of Cultural Rhythms is itspromotion of the awareness of varied experiences.

"The opportunity to see things that aredifferent...may spark something in you to dig alittle deeper, "he said.

Introducing Smith--whose nickname is the FreshPrince--Counter recalled all the royals who havevisited Harvard--including Prince Charles ofBritain and King Juan Carlos of Spain. Countercalled Smith the first "American royalty" to comehere.

"I'd like to thank the Harvard Foundation forchoosing such a deserving recipient," Smith joked,after the audience greeted him with a standingovation. "When I found out I was going to behonored by the Harvard Foundation, I didn't evenask why. I was just like, 'I' m there.'