Poetry, dancing, traditional costuming, singing, socialization and numerous cultures blended on Saturday evening at the International Coffeehouse.

About 300 people attended the Coffeehouse, where seven different international student organizations presented entertainment in a casual setting. It was the kickoff event of the 27th annual International Festival.

The International Student Council and the International Students and Scholars division of the University Office of International Programs sponsored the event, which took place in the HUB-Robeson Center's Heritage Hall. Throughout the evening, attendees snacked on refreshments, sampled cups of strong Turkish coffee and chatted softly in the back of the auditorium.

The evening began with the Muslim Student Association's skit entitled "Misconceptions," followed by a fashion show of attire from countries where Islam is practiced and also featured a poetry reading.

The second group on stage performed Capoeira, a Brazilian art that combines fighting and dancing. After a short explanation of Capoeira's role in the history of Brazil, the group invited audience members to join their circle and try the art form.

Kateryna Lobus (junior-animal bioscience) started participating in Capoeira at the beginning of fall semester. She said she met someone in a class who told her about Capoeira, and then she attended a seminar about it.

"I just got hooked," she said.

Following the Capoeira presentation, a group representing the Taiwanese Student Association danced in matching costumes with jingling bells.

Veena Ramesh, an exchange student from Singapore majoring in finance, then presented a classical Indian dance.

"Singapore is a multicultural society," she said, explaining how she learned the art of traditional Indian dancing. "There were so many places you could learn dance."

Ramesh works annually to choreograph Indian dances as part of a fundraiser for multicultural activities at her home campus, the National University of Singapore.

A student dressed in an intricate, gold angel costume took the stage next. She performed a dance from Thailand that showed an angel who came to earth, fell in love with a prince and was called back to heaven.

The Penn State Hellenic Society presented Greek dances. At the close of their performance, they invited audience members onstage, creating two large dancing circles as the crowd clapped along.

The closing performance of the International Coffeehouse was from the Latin American Student Association. An international student from Venezuela sang four songs while providing his own piano accompaniment.

While the audience enjoyed the multicultural entertainment, they also found value in a Turkish Student Association table, which had both information about Turkey as well as small cups of coffee.

Sule Ergun (graduate-nuclear engineering), the Turkish Student Association secretary, helped make the coffee for the event. She said that the coffee is served in small cups because of its strength, and the thick residue that settles to the bottom of the coffee can be used to tell fortunes.

Ergun explained that once a person has finished a cup of Turkish coffee, he or she flips the cup over onto its saucer. When the residue inside the cup cools, its shape can be examined to predict events.

"By looking at those figures you can tell some stories or some things about the person's future," she said.

The Turkish Student Association volunteered to provide the beverage after the University Office of International Programs advertised the Coffeehouse, asking student organization for performers.

"It gives a little more cultural flavor," said Linda Keefer, assistant to the director of International Students and Scholars, about the thick drink. "It's something that's not your typical American coffee."