Latin Fest Charms the Crowd with Vibrant Cultural Mix

Actors present a story to tie the show together. *Photo: Katherine Omari*

By AYELEN FERNANDEZ and JONATHAN LI

Curtains opened, the stage was illuminated, and the crowd roared. Midwood's sixth annual Latin Fest on October 14 highlighted aspects of Latin culture through a series of dances, musical performances, and fashion.

This year's production was led by commissioners Mai-Lei Desouza ‘27, Jessica Silva ‘27, and Daira Vargas ‘27. “Latin Fest has been an important event for me ever since my freshmen year,” Silva said. “It has always helped me appreciate the beauty of not only my culture but also the culture of other Latin countries.”

The show featured a vibrant mix of quinceañera, folklórico, tribal, merengue, reggaeton, and bachata dances and traditions from countries like Colombia, Venezuela, El Salvador, Haiti, and Brazil.

"All the directors and commissioners got inspiration from different regions,” Desouza said. “We tried to convey that the Latin community is not a monolith.”

The directors and dancers put immense effort and dedication towards bringing their art to life on stage. “My dance specifically invited students who have never danced before, which was an enriching adventure,” said Catalina Zacapaza ‘27, a folklórico dance director.

Preparing for the show wasn’t easy. “The most challenging part was perfecting all the intricate footwork and maintaining high energy and knowing all the dances step by step,” said Darilynn Atitla Galicia ‘27.

The show's storyline highlighted the debates and compromises that occurred during the fest’s own rehearsals. “We only had one Saturday practice and many days where practice would be cancelled,” Desouza said. “It was frustrating, especially as the days dwindled down.” Maximizing time, commissioners focused on groups who needed the most support and pressed on with repeated full run throughs as the big day approached to make sure everyone was ready.

The backstage crew also helped bring the show together, from the stage crew setting up scenes for the skit to the light crew putting the spotlight on the performers.

For Nashla Baez ‘27, who returned as the modeling director for a second year, one of the most rewarding parts of Latin Fest was meeting new people and helping them build confidence. “I always strive to make sure every model can perform with a smile on their face and look back with a positive memory,” she said.

The impact on the crowd made it all worth it. “My dad told me the show brought him to tears because he could’ve never imagined that his country, Ecuador, could be represented in front of so many kids and by the youth in our school in the United States,” said Vannesa Bermeo ‘27, a folklórico dancer.

“Preparing for and performing at Latin Fest helped me appreciate how much history, heart, and storytelling are woven into Mexican music and dance as well as other Hispanic cultures,” said Galicia.

Throughout the show, the crowd’s energy kept building. When Jilsy Palma ‘28 sang “Si Una Vez,” the audience clapped to the beat.

“You could really see how much effort everyone put into the show,” said Derek Yu ‘27, “and with the audience’s cheering it really made the performance something to remember."

“I just want the audience to take away that it doesn’t matter where you’re from if you want to be a part of Latin Fest,” said Baez. “Because at the end of the day, our main goal is to showcase something beautiful.”