Cultural Rhythms Show & Conversation with Sheryl Lee Ralph

Join us on Saturday, April 4th, 2026 at Sanders Theatre for the Harvard Foundation's 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Showcase, a celebration of the multitude of cultures at Harvard. Cultural Rhythms showcases 11 cultural performances and an award ceremony and student-led conversation with our Cultural Impact Award Honoree. This year's theme, Bridges through Time: 40 Years of Cultural Exchange, pays tribute to the changemakers who came before us and whose efforts have strengthened our community through the celebration of culture. We hope that all who attend will leave with the understanding that each performance serves as a bridge, connecting histories, identities, and traditions to future possibilities.&nbsp;The Cultural Rhythms Cultural Impact Award Recipient for 2026 is Sheryl Lee Ralph. Performers Include: The Kuumba Singers of Harvard College Harvard Undergraduate Asian American Dance Troupe Sharon Cheng Candela Latin Dance Troupe Harvard College Opera Harvard Undergraduate Philippine Forum Harvard College Steelpan Ensemble Harvard Undergraduate Bhangra Undergraduate Mariachi Veritas de Harvard Harvard RAZA Ballet Folklorico Omo Naija x the Wahala Boys: Harvard Undergraduate African Dance Troupe Sheryl Lee Ralph&nbsp;has become a staple in the entertainment industry and for her acclaimed career spanning more than four decades, she recently received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ralph can currently be seen in the hit ABC/Warner Bros. Television comedy series Abbott Elementary; her portrayal of “Barbara Howard,” which won her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, as well as the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Ralph first made a name for herself on television starring in over 100 episodes of UPN’s Moesha, for which she received five NAACP Image Award nominations, and she has also appeared in feature films such as A Piece of the Action, The Mighty Quinn, To Sleep with Anger, and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. On stage, Ralph is well known for her award-winning work and creating the role of “Deena Jones” in the legendary Broadway musical “Dreamgirls,” which earned her Best Actress nods for Tony and Drama Desk Awards, and she recently appeared as Madame Morrible in “Wicked,” becoming the first African American actress to take on the classic role. Beyond her work on screen and stage, Ralph is a passionate health advocate and nationally recognized AIDS activist. In 1990, she founded The DIVA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established as a memorial and lifelong commitment to the many friends she lost to HIV/AIDS. The foundation is dedicated to improving health outcomes for all communities through innovative programming that harnesses the transformative power of the arts.Their signature fundraising event, Divas Simply Singing! Raising Health Awareness, which is an annual benefit concert that raises awareness and funds, has a 35-year history making it the longest-running consecutive running HIV/AIDS and Health Awareness benefit concert in the United States. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://dso.college.harvard.edu/office-culture-community/about-harvard-foundation">The Harvard Foundation webpage</a>&nbsp;and follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/harvardfoundation">Instagram</a>. Reserve tickets at: https://boxoffice.harvard.edu/Online/default.asp?BOparam%3A%3AWScontent%3A%3AloadArticle%3A%3Apermalink=harvard-foundation&amp;BOparam%3A%3AWScontent%3A%3AloadArticle%3A%3Acontext_id=&amp;utm_source=Harvard+Foundation+Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=7583ff670b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_01_OCT_COPY_01&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_-3de682d068-&amp;__cf_chl_tk=rjYkZx.LqX0vO8viVQhyczAyEhMP20Xd8uc2nwOtoP0-1774895120-1.0.1.1-tZ_WipVaTdu9jjR7ia8Op4R1PABTZqa_D2Ira.CnN2A&amp;utm_source=Harvard+Foundation+Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=7583ff670b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_01_OCT_COPY_01&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_-3de682d068-287920958

Sanders Theatre

Harvard Foundation

Marvin

Mimi Nguyen

Hugo

124 aisha

Amanda 

S22: conversations

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Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

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S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

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S11: happening this weekend

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25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

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S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

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Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

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This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

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The newest events happening in and around Boston

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S2 (A): top experiences

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Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

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S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

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Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

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Food & drink experiences 

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Cultural Rhythms Show & Conversation with Sheryl Lee Ralph

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