Vintage cars and lively music filled Belle Haven’s Kelly Park with vibrant energy at the Bailar! Dance and Car Show on Saturday afternoon. The event displayed multicultural spirit, unifying the community through dance performances and festive tunes. Bailar! attracted a diverse audience, featuring senior performances, as well as fun, youthful activities like bouncy houses.
Many attendees were intrigued by the collection of four unique cars. Among the colorful vehicles from the 1940s-50s was a brown custom-painted ’54 Bel Air and several lowriders, an important staple of Mexican-American culture.
Around noon, the flag-decorated stage filled with performers, including members of the Belle Haven Senior Center. Featuring Latin American diversity from Aztec traditions to traditional folklorico dresses, the dances celebrated music, heritage, and culture. The upbeat rhythms, including “Son De Mi Tierra” by Mariachi Vargas De Taclitlan and “El Xochipitzahuatl” by Cantar Huasteco, energized and entertained families. Leo Rubio, a student at Sunrise Middle School, came to the event to watch his aunt perform. “I’m proud of her, she’s been practicing since sixth grade,” he said.
Teresa Fernandez, a member of the Belle Haven Senior Center and a performer in the festivities, emphasized the importance of Bailar!, as well as other community events for seniors. “Some of the seniors cannot go to all the events for reasons. So these kind of events are good for us,” she said.
Each performance was met with loud applause. Shaded from the blazing heat, local businesses and food trucks kept attendees busy during intermission with a variety of delicious treats, including ice cream, seafood, and sugar skulls.
Bailar! brought the community together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, a period between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15 when several Latin American countries gained independence. “For us, it’s important to recognize the independence in any country, and they need to be celebrated. They need to be remembered,” Fernandez said.
Ruben Ponte, an organizer of the event, appreciated the Hispanic community’s engagement. “[I like seeing] that they show up and that they care about Hispanic heritage. And I like seeing them have fun and enjoying themselves,” he said.
