Entertainment, authentic food highlight Latino celebration

The final days of September signal the end of this year’s national Latino Heritage Month, but Syracuse University’s annual Fiesta Latina will make sure it goes out with a bang.

The event, hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, will take place this Saturday night starting at 7 p.m. As in the past, the semi-formal evening will kick off with a buffet of traditional cuisine catered by El Canelo Authentic Mexican Food, followed by live entertainment throughout the evening. When performances close, the dance floor will open up, giving guests the opportunity to dance to live music.

Josie Otero, the administration secretary of OMA, was the lead organizer of Fiesta Latina for the past two years and promised another lively evening. Last year’s gala was entertained by the sketch-comedy of Salsation! Theatre Company, and Otero indicated Saturday night’s show would be a shake-up from 2005.

‘(The show) will be a little different this time around,’ Otero said. ‘We have tango dancers performing to different genres of music in order to showcase different aspects of music that have evolved in Latina culture.’

Guests should expect performances from Guira Quintet, a bachata and merengue band as well as a performance from reggaeton group Son Inocentes.

Students who enjoyed dancing to a live band last year shouldn’t worry though; Otero and the Fiesta Latina team promised that part of the night is still on the program.

N’seeka Macpherson, a graduate student in the School of Education who attended last year’s Fiesta Latina, said she is looking forward to the event.

‘(Last year), the live band stood out for me,’ she said. ‘Being able to dance and socialize really brings the students out.’

Macpherson agreed that in addition to a great party, the annual festival is an effective way to bring Syracuse’s relatively small Hispanic community together.

‘I was impressed with the show last year,’ Macpherson said. ‘I’m looking forward to Saturday night.’

If You Go:

What: Fiesta Latina

When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Goldstein Auditorium

Cost: $7 with SU ID