Southampton - The eclectic cultural complexion that is the modern East End is too rich and diverse to possibly represent in a single event, nonetheless, the Parrish Art Museum, in cooperation with the Rogers Memorial Library, presented a stellar afternoon celebrating the Native American, Mexican, Greek, Irish and African American elements of it with glorious music and dance.

Cute as a button and with the map of Ireland on their faces, the young dancers of the Kildare Academy of Irish Dance take a bow.

Appropriately, the event opened with a celebration of the East End's original inhabitants as Autumn Rose Williams and Mattah Wright, Miss Shinnecock Nation Teen and Junior Teen, respectively, represented the indigenous people and culture that against all the odds of occupation, immigration and development have preserved their way of life through the evolution of the Hamptons from unspoiled wilderness to affluent society playground.

The next scheduled group was described in the program as "Scottish Bagpipers featuring Carol Price." Unfortunately, particularly for this son of Scotland, the bagpipers scheduled to participate had to cancel due to a "conflict" according to the event's organizer Jennifer Duque, the Parrish Art Museum's gracious Director of Family Programs. Well shame on the Scots and, truly, their loss! Thankfully, Grupo Folklorico Xochipilli from Mexico expanded their performance to two appearances filling the void left by my fellow Caledonians. The troupe gave an endearing performance, both in their scheduled time slot and later on in the show, which proudly celebrated their Mexican heritage in beautiful traditional costumes, music and dance.

The Hamptons Hellenic Dancers of the Greek Orthodox Church of Southampton.

Duque explained the purpose of the event, "With all the wonderful traditions and heritages that are represented on the East End and make up the East End communities, we thought it would be wonderful to bring everyone together for an afternoon to be able to share part of what they do and where they have come from with everybody else."

The dance troupe Grupo Folklorico Xochipilli brilliantly brought the Mexican culture to the stage of the Parrish Art Museum.

A great cultural celebration that occurs every summer in the Hamptons is the Hellenic Festival staged by the Greek Orthodox Church of Southampton. They followed in the program with over a dozen young dancers, ranging from grammar to high school, that constitute the congregation's Hamptons Hellenic Dancers. The colorfully costumed young people deftly danced the stage in celebration of the civilization that created the democratic principle and an ethnic community that has had an indelible influence on the evolution of the Hamptons.

Dressed in the evening's most striking and elaborate costumes were the Tenochtitlan Dance Group that celebrated the historic heritage of the Aztec culture. A society now considered as intellectually and culturally advanced during its period of prevalent existence as any in Europe. Their performance was both illuminating and striking.

Following another generous performance by the Grupo Folklorico Xochipilli, a juxtaposition of cultures as diverse as any occurred, the Kildare Academy of Irish Dance were next in the program. The troupe brought the youngest of their dancers to the stage and the map of Ireland was sketched on every face. The jigs, skips and jumps were delightful, lyrical and filled with unbridled exuberance.

The Showers of Blessings Choir of the Kings Chapel Church of God in Christ.

The evening concluded with a performance by the Kings Chapel, Church of God in Christ, Showers of Blessings Choir. The voices of this African American congregation were extraordinary, rich and beautiful in the passion of their music. I, along with the rest of the audience, clapped and stamped my feet to the inspirational and energetic performance.

Along with an evening of extraordinary dance, music and culture were activity tables for the kids in the audience, as this was indeed a great family event. The Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center and Museum provided a Bead Necklace Making Workshop coordinated by Andrea Godoy and Asian Brush Painting was taught by Madolin Archer, sponsored by the Parrish Museum.

Not just about fine art, the Parrish Art Museum has once again expressed its year-round commitment to the community of the Hamptons in the music and dance of the cultures that reflect the unique diversity of our island paradise.

For more information go to www.parrishart.org.