The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) hosted Gala Latina last weekend, a dance party celebrating Hispanic culture, foods, and especially music. Held in the DHH Ballroom, the event was open to all students, faculty, and community members. The free event offered a taco bar provided by MTU’s dining services, as well as drinks, games, and Western attire for anyone unequipped to match the vaquero [Spanish for “cowboy”] theme.
“We just want people to experience the dancing and the music,” said first-year SHPE member Janelly Sanchez-Puetes on the importance of hosting this event. The evening’s soundtrack sampled a large collection of Latin music, from ranchera and salsa to club and pop hits. Rogerio Ferreira, a PhD student who recently moved from Brazil, came to the event to enjoy the dancing and meet others who shared this culture. “We were kind of worried… in São Paulo you could have dance parties like this all the time,” said Ferreira. “This is a great way to join with the community and meet people.” As a seasoned salsa dancer, the ballroom floor was a perfect opportunity for Ferreira to showcase his skills. Members of the Tech’s Swing Club were also in attendance, invited by Ferreira who teaches salsa rhythms with the organization. “I usually go to these events, it’s just fun!” said Derek Gottwalt, a Swing Club member attending the gala, before joining his instructors on the dance floor.
Music was not Gala Latina’s only draw – free food, games, and prizes also attracted a crowd. The dance floor cleared to host a heated game of ‘hot potato,’ and Blizzard dropped in to try his paw at ‘pin-the-tail.’ Initially drawn in by the taco bar, fourth-year Eddie Sloan reflected on the event. “I like on-campus events, that’s how we meet different groups of people…. They’re good, it’s inclusive, it’s fun when you have all these different perspectives.”
Gala Latina was made a success through the dedicated work and coordination of SHPE, the IRHC, and the SLI, who funded the event. Looking forward, SHPE hopes to increase attendance and keep the party growing. “Last year we had around 65 people,” adds Sanchez-Puetes. “This year we are hoping around 90!” Anyone who enjoys an evening celebrating diverse music, food, and culture should be on the lookout for the next Gala Latina or SHPE event hosted at MTU.
