Did you see the bright lights coming out from the Lankford Student Union? Did you hear funky music playing from the ballroom?
On Wednesday night, the Student Union held “Salsa MAGIC!” an event that led each dancing soul on campus into the ballroom to let their hips and feet move to the rhythm of the Caribbean music.
“Salsa MAGIC!” was led by two highly experienced salsa dancers who happily and interactively instructed the students on the several basic steps of the salsa and bachata. Sponsored by Lancer Productions, “Salsa MAGIC!” allowed students to dance to the rhythm of different Latin American hits such as “Limbo” and “La Despedida” by Daddy Yankee, “Danza Kuduro” by Don Omar and “Stand by Me” by The Beatles in its bachata version performed by Prince Royce.
The skilled instructors showed off all their abilities on the dance floor to impress and entertain the audience while they asked icebreaker questions for dancers to get to know each other.
The festivities were super entertaining because every time a new performance and rhythm began, the instructors split the boys and girls apart to teach each their respective steps. Once the basic steps were taught and the students had a little bit of practice, the students then searched for a partner to perform with. Every now and then, students had to switch partners with whom they had to try another performance, leaving all their fears and embarrassment behind to shake their waists in couples.
While the dancing was taking place, the instructors brought up some interesting and important facts about the dances’ origins in the Caribbean. Bachata was born in the Dominican Republic in the 60s as an expression of popular and native music. Salsa finds its origins in Cuba, much earlier than bachata, in the 1930, and was highly influenced by other rhythms such as the mambo and the rumba.
But the music, the couples and the important facts were not everything that happened during the night. “Salsa MAGIC!” also offered a competition where couples danced the performance previously taught by the instructors.Finally, the couples had the opportunity to groove while having a great time with friends and listening to some Latin American hits.