National Hispanic Heritage Month is the period from Sept. 15 to Oct.15 when people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latin(x) Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture.
To commemorate this, on Wednesday, Oct. 8th, the gym at Ida B. Wells High School was full of energy, music and smiles. As part of the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the dancers Enrique Villarreal and Sierra Mullins visited the school to offer a fun salsa and bachata class during lunchtime.
Salsa and bachata are two popular Latin dance styles. Salsa is fast and full of turns, while bachata is slower with softer steps.
Salsa originated in the Caribbean, in Cuba and Puerto Rico, and became popular in New York City during the 1970s, where it mixed rhythms from Afro-Cuban music, jazz and other Latin styles. It’s known for its fast tempo, spins and strong partner connection.
Bachata, on the other hand, comes from the Dominican Republic. It started as a slower, romantic dance with soft hip movements and emotional music, often about love and heartbreak. Over time, it spread across the world and became a symbol of Latin passion and connection.
With Latin music in the background, the students formed a big circle and started to practice basic steps in couples. After a few minutes, everyone turned and changed partners, which made the activity more dynamic and social. The energy in the gym was contagious- laughter, clapping and rhythm filled the environment.
“It was great having something like this in the middle of the day,” many students commented. “It put our mood up and gave us energy for the next classes.”
The celebration continued the next day, during the homecoming assembly. Villarreal and Mullins performed together as a couple, impressing everyone with their coordination and style. Soon after, the students who had taken the salsa and bachata class joined them, forming a big circle full of dancing couples. Then, the dancers invited some of those same students who were already dancing near them in the circle to dance with them as partners, turning the whole gym into a lively celebration.
Besides being a fun pause, the activity let us honor and celebrate Hispanic culture, which is an important part of the diversity of Ida B. Wells. Without a doubt, it was an experience that combined movement, community and celebration in perfect harmony.
