Hispanic Heritage Month on Drew’s campus was kicked off early this September with dancing, raffles and prizes. The Ranger Programming Board hosted an event on Friday, Sept. 12, encouraging students to shake out early-semester stress while learning Salsa, a form of Latin American dance. This celebration was held in Crawford Hall from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and invited attendees of all cultural backgrounds.
Plenty of food and light refreshments were available, but the highlights of the platter were the beef and chicken empanadas cooked in a South American style. Soda and water were also provided, equipping the future Salsa dancers with ample hydration.
The first few rounds of practice were accompanied by a multitude of Latin music, spanning across many generations. The students began displaying their Salsa skills by shadowing dance instructor Joselyn Saloman in one large group. Notable songs included Marc Anthony’s rendition of “Aguanile,” a track known for its Afro-Caribbean roots, and Bad Bunny’s famous “NUEVAYoL” from his most recent studio album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”
After some rehearsal, Saloman split the students into two groups. With leadership from the instructor, each unit performed choreographed Salsa moves to “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” another track from Bad Bunny’s previously mentioned album, as well as the first-ever Salsa song to hit No. 1 on the U.S. Apple Music Billboard Hot 100 in history. All eyes were on them, and Saloman’s were no exception– but with her guidance, each group received rousing applause after their showcase.
The students partnered up for the final test, with “Palla Voy” by Marc Anthony and “Quimbara” by Celia Cruz soundtracking the event’s closing. Following an evening of Latin pride and laughter, raffle prizes were given out to three lucky winners. The selection consisted of a canvas paint-by-number kit with a composition notebook featuring patterned Spanish dancers, a complete coffee-making set including a brand new Keurig and highly coveted AirPod Pros.
Saloman expressed immense gratitude at the dance session’s end, thanking everyone for their time and hard work. Given her identity as an immigrant from Venezuela, Salsa is a key component of her culture and helps maintain a strong connection with Saloman’s home country. She is forever grateful for the opportunity to share her heritage through artistic expression and continues to spread this joy under Tamara Delane Entertainment.
Jadelyn Villa is a junior majoring in English and minoring in Teaching.
