Amidst pita and hummus, kabobs and baklava, belly dancing and Arabic poem readings, Grand Valley State University students crowded into the Grand River Room on Thursday for Taste of the Arab World, the Arab Culture Club’s main event.

At 7:30 p.m., students and faculty alike were introduced to the Arab world through a short picture slideshow conducted by professor Majd Al-Mallah, depicting the lifestyle of the 22 countries that make up the Arab world. After, six students — Beth Kuchenmeister, Danielle Petek, Aubrey McMahan, Sarah Jones, Cassandra Beach and Marissa Kobe — recited poetry in Arabic for the audience.

“We have to recite poems all the time in class,” said Petek, a film and video major with an interest in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic. “I thought this would be a good outlet for my poetry reading and a fun place to perform.”

When the readings commenced, tables were dismissed to experience the delicious and diverse food. Lines quickly formed and didn’t die down all night, the chicken kabobs and lentils and rice satisfying the hunger of the attendants, who were serenaded by Arabian music.

At 8:45 p.m., the GVSU Belly Dance Club emerged, performing in traditional garb to peppy songs. The crowd gazed on as the colorful skirts, lined with silver and gold, moved in syncopation.

Applause carried the dancers off the stage and welcomed the Jad Soudah Band from Dearborn, Mich., to the stage. The rest of the night was filled with enlivening lyrics, thumping drums and traditional dancing. Henna tattoos were provided by local artist Anna Selkers.

This event, along with baklava and falafel sales and partnership events with English as a second language programs, is vital to the club’s goal.

“We want to dispel stereotypes that exist on our campus about the Arab culture,” said McMahan, the club’s current president, who initially came in contact with the Arab culture during a two-week study abroad trip to Egypt. “We want people to experience the food, the culture, the poetry, the colors… I became fascinated with their lifestyle. People would be out shopping in the streets at 2 a.m.! All the sights, the sounds, the smells — it was amazing.”

The event and club are open to all students.

“I thought, ‘What else can I take that’s relevant?’” said Taylor Renee, who is taking Arabic to satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement for her degree. “The classes in Middle Eastern studies and Arabic are so small, I know almost everyone in the club and at the events.”

The Arab Culture Club meets every other Wednesday right now, but this time and date changes with every semester. The meetings are located in the International House. For more information, contact McMahan.

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