Student Groups Shine at Cultural Rhythms

Actor and comedian George Lopez joined The Kuumba Singers, Fuerza Latina and 16 other student groups to perform in front of a packed Sanders Theatre Saturday for the 19th annual Cultural Rhythms show.

Lopez, widely known for his role in the ABC television comedy with his name, was this year’s recipient of the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations’ annual “Artist of the Year” award.

Past honorees have included Queen Latifah, Jackie Chan and Matt Damon, Class of 1992.

The show kicked off when Harvard Foundation Director S. Allen Counter introduced the masters of ceremonies, Lopez and Rosa Ríos ’87. Ríos, one of the original organizers of the Cultural Rhythms show, shared the spotlight with Lopez as the evening’s honorary host.

“You’re in for a real treat today,” Counter said.

Candela, a group of dancers sponsored by Fuerza Latina, opened the show with upbeat Latin dancing and ended with a salsa number that received responded with loud applause from the audience.

The ’07 Steppers got the pulse up as the group of around 30 first-years clapped, banged and stomped on the Sanders Theatre stage.

Also among the presenters was the Harvard Wushu club, a group of around 20 men and women who demonstrated various forms of Chinese martial arts.

After each performance, one of the participants presented Lopez with a rose and sat with him to watch the next piece.

Throughout the evening Lopez laughed over his inability to pronounce some of the names.

“I’m having so much fun I’m not even thinking about reading,” Lopez said. “This better be an easy one. In high school, I thought SAT meant Saturday,” he said.

But Lopez also struck a more serious note during the performance.

“I don’t think it’s lost on any of the performers that [the statues at the edges of the stage] are white,” he said.

After a short intermission, Dean of Admissions William R. Fitzsimmons ’67, who said he was representing the administration, joined Counter on stage to present Lopez with his award as the Foundation’s “Artist of the Year.”

While both University President Lawrence H. Summers and former Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis ’68 had attended the show in previous years, neither Summers nor Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 attended Saturday’s ceremony.

Counter, when honoring Lopez, called him“ a man of extraordinary talent.”

“[He] never forgot who he was or where he came from. This is a man who helps out with issues of violence...This man is a role model for all of us,” Counter said.

Lopez is a strong supporter of community arts and education programs, for which he founded his own charity—the George and Ann Lopez-Richie Alarcon Care Foundation.

Accepting the Award, Lopez told the students “you remind me of hope, and perseverance, and pride...the fact that you are so young and so proud makes an old Mexican very proud.”

“This is only the beginning of my giving back,” Lopez said, “I will use all of my power for good, and never for evil.”

Lopez also had some advice for the students in the audience.

“Be multi-lingual because it scares white people,” he said.

Lopez also pledged to put a Harvard shield on his refrigerator for the remainder of his television show.

After the program, The Harvard Foundation hosted an ethnic food festival in the Science Center.

Following the first performance, a second show was held in Sanders featuring new groups such as the Han Ma Eum Korean Drum Troupe and TAPS, a Harvard tap-dance group.

Lopez, who left before the second show began, asked the Harvard community to welcome him back anytime.

“If you see me around,” he said, “don’t be a stranger.”