Latinx Cultural Night Coverage 2022

Theo Zittel
News Reporter

The 22nd annual Latinx Cultural Night took place in the Soda Center on March 9th, 2022. With over 100 audience members, the show was a complete sellout. In addition, Saint Mary’s very own Ballet Folkloricó Guadalupano group appeared three times throughout the night between the other SMC students’ performances. Each performance presented different talents, personal commemorations to family, connections to culture, and appreciation for the diverse cultures within Latin America and Latinx communities in the United States. 

Christian Ramirez Rodriguez questioned “¿Qué es un Santo?” which translates to “What is a Saint?” which recognizes the significance of the Catholic faith within the context of Latin America. The SMC Merengue group performed an exciting dance choreographed by Teresa Martinez and shared that the merengue song and dance originated from the Dominican Republic but has become popular amongst other communities. The @Smcmemes22 Instagram page creator did a comedic segment on “The Roast of SMC,” stressing SMC’s most relatable and controversial characteristics. 

The video titled “Ellas,” put together by Stephanie Ramirez, honored the influential female figures within her own family, such as her grandma, mom, and aunt. What followed was the reading of a personal poem written by Isabella Gutierrez in memory of her late grandmother, and how much of an impact she had on both her childhood and early adulthood. José Miranda, both a dancing member and serving as the co-fundraising chair of Ballet Folkloricó Guadaluano, performed a solo dance in the show’s latter half. 

Maya Diáz-Villalta shared a poem written by Gloria Anzaldua titled “La Prieta,'' which describes the pain derived from views on colored skin and feeling alienated from the society they live within. Finally, Cecelia Estrada shared the “Senior Video” commemorating hers and her friend’s time at Saint Mary’s to end the show. It described the good, the bad, and the memorable moments they each experienced, ending with advice for incoming and current students at the institution. Executive team members Co-Chair Stephanie Ramirez, Set Director David Garza, Event Planner Athena Wise, and Publicity Coordinator Cecilia Estrada Navarro put together the event, which the Intercultural Center hosted. The event could not have been accomplished without their dedication and time coordinating the show and set.

(Images Courtesy Writer)​

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