Culture Shock event celebrates Emory community’s talent and cultures
September 8, 2026 John Baker Brown
More than 770 students gathered at McDonough Field on Friday, Sept. 4, for an evening filled with food, musical performances, lawn games and fun. Culture Shock is an annual Emory tradition that invites all students to celebrate the creativity, culture and talent of the university community through music, dance, step and other forms of artistic expression.
Emceed by Emory senior Elamin Elsayed, the festival-style event featured a talent showcase of 14 recognized student organizations, including the university’s premier a cappella groups: Ahana, No Strings Attached, Aural Pleasure, Chaitunes, Dooley Noted and The Gathering. A variety of dance groups were also featured, including Bambika, Blaez Dance Team, Emory Emotion Dance Team, Emory Karma Bhangra, Emory Saraas, Emory Suri, TNT Dance Crew and Zeebah.
Before performing, each group introduced itself, shared contact information and explained when it would hold fall auditions.
“This is one of those instances where you actually get to see what these clubs do,” says Elsayed. “And we value and cherish these moments because you see the diversity of Emory from everything — the music, the different groups, the different foods and the different energies. It’s a nice welcome to Emory.”
Students enjoyed menu selections from Spicy Desi and Tres Jardines Taqueria food trucks before grabbing a popsicle from King of Pops and watching the show under the stars.
“Culture Shock is a dynamic celebration that creates opportunities for Emory students to celebrate community and create new connections,” says Denise Ocasio Thomas, director of belonging organizations and development in the Mosaic Center for Student Belonging and Success. “Seeing students’ joy as they make new friends and reconnect around shared passions is truly the highlight of the event.”
Introduced in 2013, Culture Shock is a Weeks of Welcome annual event hosted by the Mosaic Center (formerly Belonging and Community Justice, part of Campus Life). Located on the third floor of Cox Hall and overseeing the community spaces, the Mosaic Center supports all students in building meaningful connections and immersing themselves in the rich traditions of the Emory community. Through intercultural learning and development, a variety of resources, and engaging community programs, the Mosaic Center fosters curiosity, connection and a deeper understanding of self and others, empowering students to engage across differences and contribute to a more Interconnected campus community.
Photos by Nicolas Burke, Emory Campus Life.
