The Student Government hosted a Hispanic Heritage Celebration on September 23 at West Campus that included live music, dance demonstrations and instruction. There also was a tasting of various ethnic foods.
Their goal was to broaden students’ understanding of the Hispanic culture by exposing them to its various aspects.
Voces & Cuendas De Mexico, a local mariachi band, entertained students in the cafeteria with their musical performance. Band members J. Alberto Cardenas, Jesus Cabrera, Cruz Gonzalez and Sergio Alvarado filled the room with many familiar songs of Mexico.
Students who attended stated that they enjoyed the music, and for some, it was a new experience. Student Debbie Lor said that she had “never seen a mariachi band before.”
Following Voces & Cuendas De Mexico were dance lessons provided by Pamela Landin and Daniel Schyler of Fred Astaire Milwaukee Dance Studio. Students were first shown steps to the Samba, Tango and Salsa dancing. Then after the demonstration they were given the opportunity to actually try the dances out with the help of the instructors. At least a dozen people took part in the dancing, filling up the central area of the cafeteria.
At the same time as the activities in the cafeteria were commencing, representatives of Student Government were serving Hispanic foods supplied by local restaurants to students in Room 117. Doug Meyer of the Student Government was responsible for the procurement and serving of the food at the tasting.
Some of the available dishes for sampling were: pork and chicken tamales, Puerto Rican rice, churros, sweet bread, chips, salsa, guacamole, and Relleno de Papa, a potato ball dish that was unknown to many student attendees. Kaylee Nelson, one of the students who tried it for the first time at the celebration, commented, “It was delicious. I can’t lie.”
All food and decorations at Hispanic Heritage Day were supplied by and can be found at El Rey, El Farol and Lopez Bakery. For more information about Voces & Cuendas De Mexico, please visit their website at
http://trioalmalatina.com. Information about the Fred Astaire Dance Studio and dance lessons can be found at www.fredastairemilwaukee.com/.