ISU Bengal

Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Life

The Hispanic Awareness Leadership Organization presented "A Night in Mexico" in the ISU Ballroom on Saturday, April 12.



The Mariachi band called Mariachi Hermanos Zavala warmly greeted guests with a burst of upbeat music and continued to play through dinner. The meal consisted of homemade tamales, enchiladas, rice and beans. They served Horchata, a rice milk with cinnamon that goes perfectly with a spot of rum, and ended the meal with desserts of cake and Jell-O. Needless to say, the food was amazing.



At one point, a man seated at one of the tables joined the Mariachi band. This man turned out to be James Fogelquist, Ph.D. the Chair of the Foreign Language Department, who proved to have an amazing voice. Fogelquist articulated the notes and language with an elegance that reached even those who are not familiar with Spanish.

Another highlight of the night was the appearance of the Aztec dancers. They displayed the colorful attire of the Aztec Empire with costumes decorated with feathers and shells. The dancers announced their entrance with conch horns, large conch shells they blew in to make a low pitch noise. A few of the dancers also carried a goblet with smoke flowing from its brim, which allowed the audience to feel as if they were part of a true Aztec ceremony.



The most memorable moment of the Aztec ceremony was the finale, when the dancers raised a flag. This flag could be called the Mexican-American Flag, because it is both of the flags sewn together. This was a symbol of harmony and expectance of both cultures, expressing pride in both country and heritage.



HALO welcomed people of all ages and backgrounds into their well-planned fiesta ,and had a good turnout. They managed to fill almost every seat in the house and held the attention of the whole audience by entertaining and educating them.

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