Spanish translation here.
Last Friday, M-A hosted Sabor Latino, its second Latin American dance, which featured live music, dance performances, food, crafts, and a mechanical bull.
Several clubs organized the after-school festival in conjunction with Leadership’s Corn Day at lunch. M-A’s students and staff wore outfits typical of a jaripeo—a traditional Mexican rodeo event that often showcases bull riding among other equestrian performances—including cowboy hats, jeans, boots, and flannel.
Latinos Unidos de M-A (LUMA), Baile Folklorico, Baile Hispano, the Latin American Studies class, and other students collaborated to organize the dance. Around 4:30, colorful strands of papel picado hanging across the patio, small tables with jicaletas, and a photo booth near the back of the F-wing welcomed students to the dance.
Spanish teacher Maribel Maldonado, who helped organize, said, “A few years back, students wanted to have a dance that was for Spanish speakers and with Spanish music. They were always turned down. Our new principal agreed, and last year was our first year but it was smaller. This year, we had students who really organized to set this up. They had a vision, they had a theme, and they put it all together with a supportive staff.”
M-A custodian Juan Flores took on the role of DJ, and the student band Los Hermanos de Oro also performed. “It’s a great way for students to see that there is support around their idea and we encourage them to bring their culture to this school,” said Maldonado.
M-A’s Baile Hispano Club and Baile Folklorico performed traditional dances.
Freshman Nora Acosta, the president of the Baile Hispano Club, said, “I recently started this club because I think M-A needs to represent more cultures. The dances we work on are Honduran punta or dances from any kind of [Latin American] culture.”
“Honduras and all Hispanic cultures should be represented more, not just Mexico,” she said. “We wanted to show people the love and passion we have for our cultural and traditional dances.”
While this is only M-A’s second Hispanic culture dance festival, Maldonado expects more to come in the future. “There’s still a lot of work to continue making the celebration annual, but I think it really depends on the students. The students design it but it together, and the teachers will support them to make that happen.”
