"Imagine walking into a dimly lit Hagan Campus Center on a Thursday night after a long day full of school work and you notice 27 flags around a dance floor area representing Hispanic countries from across the globe. You then hear a live band playing machata and salsa music; you can't help but move your feet, grab a plate and relax. Earlier this month on October 9th, the ALANA Network, along with those who were in attendance, celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with our 2nd Annual Latino Festival. Before I start talking about the celebration, here is a little background information about the inspiration behind this event.Hispanic Heritage Month is a time period in which Hispanic Americans are recognized for their contributions to the United States. This is also a time to celebrate the Hispanic heritage and culture. Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 26 and ends on October 25. September 25 is a very historic day for Latin America, especially for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. This date was chosen because it marks the anniversary of these countries acquiring their independence.
Hagan Campus Center Hall was a beautiful setting for a night full of great music, delicious food, and awe-inspiring performances. The night opened up with a prayer by Mary Anne Cappelleri from Campus Ministry. Then professor Arlene Guerrero-Watanabe, from the Modern and Classical Languages Department, recited three popular Hispanic poetry readings in both Spanish and English, which captured the essence of its rich culture. As the music started up again, people began to grab food to sit down at fully decorated tables to socialize and enjoy the warm sounds of the live band.
For the first performance of the night, there was a local Latin dance school, Ritmos Academy, who performed three traditional Hispanic dance styles and forms. They performed the mambo which is a Cuban dance form, a tango which is a traditional dance from Argentina, and the flamenco, which originated in Spain. The second performance was Assumption's own Latin Dance Team who chose to wow the crowd with a beautiful meringue number. The night concluded with an open dance floor and a chance for everyone to look at the Hispanic artifacts brought for display by various Assumption students.
Participating in and attending this event was a blast. There was a good turn out of faculty as well as students, and once again there was really good food, music and dance. It truly was a great escape from a regular day of schooling. In the process I learned a lot about different customs and practices from different cultures, which in the end made me appreciate the opportunity I have here in America more. So if you are reading this article, I highly recommend you to attend next year's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. This is your personal invitation to the ALANA Network's 3rd Annual Latino Festival."
Lammar Cash '10
Secretary, ALANA Network
