There was a lot of dancing in the Union Ballroom on Friday night — but not ballroom dancing.
Nearly 600 people attended the Spanish carnaval “Bailamos,” and were met with an upbeat atmosphere and Latin music.
The carnaval was organized by Allyne Cevada, a senior in biomedical engineering. Cevada is the fundraiser representative in the Hispanic Business Students Association, a club on campus. The event expected to raise around $4,500 to fund more activities for the club and to support a was Dream Scholarship. announced at the end of the event called the
“We believe that Latinos can be future leaders,” Cevada said.
Bailamos, or “dance,” began in the fall of 2009 as a sort of Crimson Nights for U students to participate in Hispanic culture.
Dance lessons kicked off the event, as participants learned a Latin dance called “bachata.” Later in the evening there was also a dance competition. Attendance at the event did not pick up until later.
“They will start coming at twelve,” said Edgar Lopez, who heard about the event through a family member who attends the U.
The Union ballroom was filled up by the end of the celebration, as lively dancing went on strong for the rest of the night.
“We can have a good time and embrace our culture and who we are at the U,” Cevada said.
Adriana Sierra, a junior in elementary education, said the event was “cool because it’s helping others get a taste of [Hispanic culture].”
She said the U could become more understanding of diversity if more events centered on other cultures were held as well.
Jimena Arellano, a senior in elementary education, attended the carnaval because the atmosphere is familiar to her.
“I feel included,” Arellano said.
Nick Nebeker, a junior in theater, said events like this are important because they provide culture to a school that does not have a highly diverse student body.
“It’s amazing,” Nebeker said. “Different culture’s style of dancing isn’t what I’m accustomed to, I’d rather be ballroom dancing.”
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