Bright, colorful decorations and a live Hispanic band filled the David L. Eisler Center ballroom during the last celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The Center for Latin@ Studies spent all of September celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. This month is to celebrate the impact and influence of Hispanic culture in America.
On Oct. 12, CLS hosted the last event of Hispanic Heritage Month by teaching participants how to Bomba and Salsa dance. Salsa is a type of dance that originated in Cuba in the 1900s and Bomba is a dance that originated in Puerto Rico. The event was open to all students and allowed those who attended a quick glimpse into Hispanic culture.
CLS Director Sonia Trevino believes that this event had a “bigger role” than other events CLS put on throughout the month.
“Dance is a form of self-expression within our community,” Trevino said. “It’s a heavy part of our celebratory events that we have throughout our culture. That’s why we wanted to make sure that we had a dance event so that we could incorporate that piece of our culture into the month of celebration.”
Education junior Alondra Reyna is the president of the Hispanic Student Organization. She believes that music is the “rhythm” of life and very important to the Hispanic community.
“Music and dance is a big part of our community,” Reyna said. “Moving your body to any dance, you will just get this feeling. Like once you start dancing it really just comes from the soul.”
Trevino feels that this event allows her to celebrate like she is “back home.” Trevino is from South Texas, where it feels like Hispanic Heritage Month “goes all year long.”
The Hispanic Student Organization strongly supports CLS. Both organizations work together to make sure students enter a “community” that they can feel a part of.
“We want to see more people get involved,” Reyna said. “No matter where you’re from. I still feel like I’m a part of Mexico because I am involved with the CLS.”
Reyna believes that having these kinds of events is “very important” for Ferris.
“To see the Hispanic community coming together for this month and trying to plan these events for our culture, it’s cool.” Reyna said.
Pre-optometry student Meagan Powell attended the event to learn a little bit about Salsa and Bomba dancing as well as the Hispanic culture as a whole. This was her first experience with dancing and Hispanic Heritage Culture Month.
“I wanted to come to this event because I have no personal experience dancing,” Powell said. “I wanted to get a feel for it and learn a little bit more about the culture.”
Trevino wanted the attendees of the event to not only learn how to Salsa and Bomba dance, but to also get a sense of “community” and “have a good time” by learning a little bit about the Hispanic culture while also learning some of the “fun” dances.