By Leticia Janes

Beauty, food and dancing are part of the focus of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.’s annual Total Body Takeover week that kicks off today.

“AKA has always focused on promoting good and healthy practices among women,” said Sade Jackson, public relations officer for AKA. “This year we still wanted to promote that but focus on some different events to involve everyone.”

Today from noon to 2 p.m., AKA will pass out apples across from Starbucks in the Student Center to promote a healthy lifestyle and to educate people about various cultures and their health issues and practices.

“This week is simply about appreciating and educating ourselves and our peers about the beauty and complexity of other cultures,” said Alise Marshall, president of AKA.

The sorority is tackling health and cultural awareness during this year’s event, themed “The Color of One,” Marshall said.

AKA will offer a cooking class and a sampling of international dishes tomorrow night from 6 to 8 in room 208 of Erikson Hall. The class will be an opportunity to experience new foods and learn how to prepare healthy dishes, Jackson said.

On Wednesday in room 359 of the Student Center, the group will showcase capoeira, a Brazilian martial arts form, from 6 to 7 p.m.

“Capoeira is a great form of exercise,” Jackson said. “Looking at all cultures can promote health awareness to revamp your body with the versatility of these programs.”

Total Body Takeover week will also feature “Pretty AKross the World” on Thursday night from 6 to 8 in room 363 of the Student Center, to learn about different cultures and their perceptions of beauty. Free makeovers will be offered and a hair stylist from Sister 2 Sister beauty salon will also be available.

Erica McClellan, vice president of AKA, said she is excited about Friday’s “Dancing Around the Globe” in the Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center from 5 to 7 p.m. Indian, salsa and hip-hop dance lessons will be taught by three experienced instructors, McClellan said.

“All of the different dance genres are a great experience someone could do all in one day,” she said.

The events are not specifically targeted for African-Americans or females, Marshall said, and all students, faculty and staff can take something away from the week’s events.

“Nothing is more empowering than knowledge,” Marshall said, “AKA is allowing people to learn something daily at the events and I encourage everyone to come to empower yourself by opening your mind to the colors around us.”