Fiesta/Baile Kicks Off Hispanic Heritage Month
Alma College celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of events, ranging from dance demonstrations to a classical guitar concert and a conversation on human rights.
“Our goal is to highlight the positive contributions of the Hispanic culture and make more visible the connections we have on campus,” says Stephany Slaughter, assistant professor of Spanish.
A “Fiesta/Baile” on Friday, Sept. 16, kicks off the month-long celebration. Activities include an information fair from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Tyler-Van Dusen Campus Center, with live mariachi music beginning at 4:30 p.m.
A mariachi performer sings on campus in 2010.
Alma College Professor Ed Lorenz, during a presentation at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 16 in Jones Auditorium, discusses plans for the Universal Human Rights Conference that will take place in Washington, D.C.
An Hispanic dinner is served from 5 to 6 p.m. in Tyler-Van Dusen. The cost is $5 per person and free for children under 12.
“Dinner will be a buffet with rice, beans, fajita-style chicken, fajita-style vegetables, tortilla and more,” says Slaughter. “We hope for an informal atmosphere where people will have the opportunity to meet others with common interests while enjoying some live mariachi music.”
Munch money for Alma College students, checks and cash will be accepted at the dinner—no credit cards please.
Zumba demonstrations are offered from 6 to 6:30 p.m., followed by dance lessons from 6:30 to 7 p.m. where attendees can learn “basic steps of merengue, salsa, cha cha, and more,” explains Slaughter.
The fiesta concludes with the “Baile Latino” from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring Latino music with a live disk jockey. Children’s activities also are available in Van Dusen from 7 to 9 p.m.
“Our goals are to promote awareness of Hispanic/Latino cultures in Michigan and create spaces for conversations across campus, as well as with other communities around the state,” says Slaughter. “It’s an opportunity to meet people not only from the campus, but community members as well.”
Other activities are planned on campus through Oct. 15. All events are open to the public.
All Saturdays/”Cuéntame un Cuento: Spanish Story Time” takes place every Saturday in the Alma College Library at 10 a.m. Volunteers and book suggestions may be forwarded to Melissa Hovey in the Alma College Library or Slaughter.
Sept. 21/In order to promote travel abroad, an “Hispanic Coalition (HisCo) Study Abroad/Spring Term Show and Tell” takes place at 6 p.m. Sept. 21 in Jones Auditorium at Alma College. Students and faculty speak about past travel experiences in various Spanish-speaking countries.
Sept. 26/Maestro Soler performs a Spanish classical guitar concert at 8 p.m. Sept. 26 in the Alma College Chapel.
Oct. 10 through Nov. 10/Dylan Miner showcases his artwork that deals with social justice and indigenous peoples. Location will be determined.
Oct. 10/A film showing of “También la Lluvia” takes place Oct. 10. Time and location will be determined.
Oct. 12/Día de la Raza (Christopher Columbus Day) is observed with a dramatic reading of Jean Claude Carriere’s “The Controversy of Valladolid” by students of Dana Aspinall, a member of the Alma College English faculty. The play covers the issues of indigenous human rights during the colonial times. Time and place for the reading will be determined.
Oct. 15/The HisCo team runs in the Matt Reinke 5k Scot Trot on Alma College’s homecoming Saturday, Oct. 15. All are welcome to join. Registration with an event t-shirt is $25; without a shirt the cost is $15. Proceeds go to the Matt Reinke Scholarship fund.
Posted: Sat, September 10th, 2011 at 10:43AM
