Calvin University’s annual Rangeela performance will take place on Feb. 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Covenant Fine Arts Center (CFAC) auditorium, featuring the theme of a “Tapestry.” Rangeela is celebrating its 30th anniversary, prompting the Calvin community to reminisce on its origins and what it represents.

“This is now your world. And if you don’t like it, then change it,” Calvin Chaplain Dale Cooper said to Anne Zaki, the founder of Rangeela. In 1995, Zaki came to Cooper with concerns about the division and lack of cultural awareness between international and American students on campus, Zaki told Chimes. Cooper’s statement is what ultimately pushed her to make a change and start Rangeela.

An international student from Cairo, Egypt, Zaki found herself floating between two groups: American and international students. She stated, “I always felt like those two circles just never bridged.” Rangeela was her solution to bridge that gap. Zaki had previously attended an international school that brought awareness to different cultures. At Calvin, though, “it just felt like there was a lack of community and lack of global awareness.” 

Responding to this lack, Zaki had the idea of introducing a cultural talent show where, she said, students could come together, have fun and truly connect. This would be an opportunity for international and American students to celebrate diversity together.

From the start, the reception of Rangeela has far surpassed what she ever imagined. The first show took place in 1996. While Zaki had low expectations for attendance, she said that more than 600 people ended up showing up. David Holquist, a former professor at Calvin who attended the first show stated, “I celebrated, wept, laughed and rejoiced for this community. I was deeply moved by the event,” as stated in a previous article from Mosaic. 

Zaki stated, “When the first show was successful, it was our win. It was everybody’s win.” To Zaki, success was everyone coming together and having fun. Those involved not only had fun but also helped lay the foundation for a beautiful legacy.

Rangeela is a way of teaching Calvin students about cultures from around the world. Zaki explained that she sees Rangeela as embodying the well-roundedness of both a liberal arts college and Calvin’s mission, that “you’re not just here to study business and then go out and be the best business person … you are here to learn about everything and about yourself through different lenses.” Rangeela is one of those lenses.

Zaki’s three eldest sons, Jonathan, Sebastian and Emmanuel Umran, have all played various roles in Rangeela in their time at Calvin, ranging from act-leader to leadership committee. Emmanuel Umran told Chimes he was reluctant to join at first, but he ended up loving it, just like his brothers. He is currently co-leading the Middle East Act and says that through leading, he has learned a lot, even about his own culture. He said he wants the Middle East Act to showcase joy and the “beautiful culture outside of the troubles” the Middle East is facing.

Similarly, Jonathan Umran said that he “sees Rangeela as a way of bringing awareness to deep-rooted traditions of other cultures beyond what is shown on the news,” correcting common misconceptions and broadening understanding.

Chimes asked those involved in producing the theme of this year’s Rangeela to describe what it means. “Rangeela” is a Hindi word for “colorful,” explained Natasha Jayaputra, director for Rangeela. This evoked the image of a tapestry. A tapestry “can be too loud sometimes. It can look a little weird. It can look a little unique. But a different patch has its own stitches, has its own pattern,” Jayaputra said. “We have been weaving stories into this beautiful tapestry, and we want to keep doing this.”

Esther Idowu, an act coordinator, said that this tapestry of cultures illustrates how “cultures are very delicate, intricate … and very complex,” like the stitches and patches of a tapestry.

Emmanuel Umran described the tapestry as something that “weaves in different cultures into this larger culture that we have at Calvin.” He explained that you can’t have a proper tapestry without each specific part, explaining that Calvin is not whole without each of its unique students and individual cultures.

Over time, Rangeela has grown into a vibrant representation of international students in Calvin’s community, the vitality they bring to the university and the home they have here. Since its creation, Rangeela has not only become a reason for international students to choose to attend Calvin, but also has grown to be a financial resource, Zaki told Chimes. Through ticket sales, money is put towards scholarships and even an emergency fund for international students, Zaki shared.

Many members of Calvin’s community may understand Rangeela exclusively as an event for international students to showcase their cultures, but Zaki recalled its original purpose: to bridge the two communities through time spent with one another and a common goal. She, her sons and others involved in Rangeela feel that the event not only provides an opportunity to see the representation of other cultures, but also to participate and celebrate with them. 

This weekend, Rangeela will once again be a witness to the vibrant tapestry of cultures at Calvin. Students are encouraged to come experience the celebration, and to consider joining in Rangeela in future years as well, to embody what Rangeela stands for and celebrate fellow students from around the world.