By Ennya Chavez
Colorful Colombian dancers and a wide range of tasty Latin American foods helped more than 200 students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month earlier this October at the second-annual Taste of Cultura Fest in the Social Hall.
The Organization of Latin American students (OLA) sponsored the Oct. 8 afternoon festival to promote diversity and inclusion while celebrating different traditions and cultures.
“Taste of Cultura showcases different countries by traditional dishes, also showcase Colombia in a performance and overall celebrate Hispanic Heritage month.” Said OLA President Maidrilim Vasquez Lopez.
OLA provided a variety of cuisines to represent different regions of Latin America and invited a dance group, Raices de Mi Tierra, to perform the Colombian baile folklorico.
More than 200 students lined up from the social hall to the dinning hall to get food such as Cuban sandwiches, empanadas, passion fruit mousse, and many other delicious foods representing different parts of Latin America.
Junior, Jocelyn Lucio said she went with a friend to celebrate the Taste of Cultura and try out new foods like the passion fruit mousse. As she waited in line for the food, she remarked on the decorations and the lively environment.
The hall was decorated with colorful papel picado (shredded paper) that mapped various Latin American countries. After getting food, students filled the seats, enjoying the music and their food. The tables had candy, glowsticks, and noisemakers, creating a more festive environment in the event.
As they were eating their food, students waited the arrival of the performers. When the performers arrived, they came in with vibrant, colorful dresses, each outfit and dance had a cultural meaning. They showcased three performances. In each dance, a performer explained the meaning behind their attire and the traditional Colombian dance they were about to perform.
Students cheered and used the noisemakers throughout the dances. The performers encouraged everyone to dance by walking to the tables and taking students to the front of the social hall. Students joined along and danced with the performers with the music.
Senior, Isabela Flores attended the event with her friends to try out some of the delicious Latin American foods.
“The food was multicultural, and it was not the average food that I typically eat,” she said. “It was an interesting taste of palate to have a variety of dishes from different parts of Latin America.”
As the festival came to an end, the performers thanked the crowd for cheering and joining them to dance. Students applauded, and some used noisemakers to show their appreciation. The performers stayed for a while for photos. There were students gathering around the performers to capture memories from this memorable event.
echavez@my.dom.edu
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