Students need to learn more than just the language as they take Spanish classes. The Spanish classes this Fall participated in Latin Dancing. The Spanish teachers found it important for these students to take part in this, as it allows them to experience an experience that people native to many Spanish-speaking countries would experience.
“We’re doing this with our Spanish one classes, the semester in upper levels as well so that the students get a sample of what they would do if they were at a party in Venezuela and they whether the teenagers do at parties in Venezuela, also so that they can learn some dance moves and hear authentic Spanish spoken by a native Spanish speaker, and have fun and because it’s great exercise and it makes us smile.” Says Leah Devine, one of the Spanish teachers.
While getting great exercise, these students also learned dances that are culturally important to many countries. Some of these dances were the Salsa and the Merengue. After learning some of these dances they participated in a Hora Loca, also known as “the crazy hour” which is essentially just a brief celebration with fast-paced music.
Devine says “We learned the marengi, the Cumbia, and salsa, which salsa comes from New York, Marengo comes from Columbia, and Cumbia comes to the Dominican Republic. Republic Dominicana. and then we do an ora loca, so if you if you were in Venezuela and you attended a party, they would have Hora loca where everyone would dance and follow the do whatever the leader does as you’re dancing. So there are lots of different expressive movements, we sample different dance moves as well as other fun things doing that.”
These dances bring joy to people and those learning about it. Many people have a passion for these dances and want to share it with others. Hytia N. Came to share these dances with the students. Dancing and teaching these dances are very important to her.
“Wow, It is something that she carries from the heart. It’s made her change a lot of her ways of thinking. So sometimes it was just a gesture as a smile, we can make children. We can make children happy. and have them enjoy.” Said Hytia through translator Samantha Phipps.
