Students learn to salsa and tango

Students learned to move to the rhythm Tuesday night at the Latin Dance Workshop in the Ferguson Center, hosted by Sigma Lambda Gamma national sorority as a part of National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month.

Student instructors Jesus Sanchez, a sophomore majoring in aerospace engineering, and Jessica Treviño, a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma and a sophomore majoring in health care management, taught the basics of salsa dance.

The art of the Argentine tango was demonstrated by Gustavo Heudebert, a senior majoring in English and Nicole Ortega, also a member of the sorority and a sophomore in New College. The workshop was one way to communicate cultural awareness during the month-long celebration of Hispanic culture and its presence at the University.

HLHM, which began Sept. 15 with a kick-off celebration at the Ferguson Center, will involve a variety of events through Oct. 15 hosted by Sigma Lambda Gamma, the Hispanic Student Association, the Women's Resource Center and Crossroads Community Center.

Sigma Lambda Gamma, a multicultural sorority, showcased its founding members in April. This is the sorority's first time leading activities during HLHM as an officially recognized organization by the University.

The Latin Dance Workshop was also a part of Gamma Week, which began Sept. 12. The week was a series of events designed to familiarize the University with the newly established sorority, said Alicia Owen, president of Sigma Lambda Gamma.

Owen said the week was about experiencing different cultures.

"The events were not just pertaining to one particular crowd or one particular subject," Owen said. "We had a variety of different types of events."

Each event during Gamma Week promoted at least one of the five principles the sorority represents she said. The Latin Dance Workshop promoted cultural awareness.

Georgi Ivanov, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, said he came to the workshop with next to no previous experience. After learning a few moves, he said it is something he would try again.

"It's good for students to experience a different culture, something out of the ordinary," Ivanov said.

Owen said another event students should not miss this month is the book discussion of "Short Stories by Latin American Women: The Magic and the Real" Sept. 25 at the Crossroads Lounge in the Ferguson Center.

Another important event is Noche Real, the third annual HLHM Gala, Owen said. It will be on Oct. 9 at Smith Hall, and is sponsored by the HSA, Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity and Sigma Lambda Gamma. Time and ticket prices are still to be announced.

Liz Denson, graduate assistant at the Crossroads Community Center and coordinator of many events during HLHM, said any student can benefit from getting involved in this month's activities.

"We all have a culture," she said. "This is an opportunity to experience that."