Overview/Background

Last Friday, members of Lenape’s Spanish Club attended a field trip to the La Luna Dance Studio in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the trip was to be a cultural enrichment experience and an opportunity to learn how to dance with friends and eat some authentic Spanish food.

In total, the program was 3 hours long and consisted of four major parts:

• 2 hours of dance instruction
• A demonstration by professional dancers
• Q & A session with the chance to win prizes
• An authentic Spanish lunch

Dance Instruction

Our dance instructor, Michael, taught us two forms of Hispanic dance, Salsa and Bachata. We learned each dance’s basic steps and the fundamentals of turning and spinning.

Salsa is a vibrant, rhythmic dance style originating from Latin America, characterized by energetic movements and intricate footwork.

Bachata is a style of dance that originated in the Dominican Republic and is known for its simple, yet expressive movements.

Demonstration

Michael and his dance partner showcased Salsa and Bachata with skillful moves and captivating chemistry.

Q & A Session

We were given the opportunity to ask Michael questions about himself in Spanish for the chance to win La Luna Dance Studio water bottles.

Students asked a variety of questions, such as:

• ¿Cuál es tu nombre? (What is your name?) – Our dance instructor’s name was Michael.
• ¿Cuál es tu color favorito? (What is your favorite color?) – Michael mentioned that he does not have a favorite color because he is color blind and sees the world differently from other people.
• ¿Cuándo bailaste por primera vez? (When did you dance for the first time?) – Micheal said that he not begin dancing until after he graduated from college.
• ¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from?) – Michael is from New York.

Lunch

As a reward for being well-behaved and learning the basics of how to dance, we were treated to an authentic Spanish lunch.

There were a variety of dishes on the menu, including:

• Tortilla Chips and Garden Salsa
• Tostones – twice-fried, crispy plantains
• Arroz Blanco – white rice
• Frijoles Negros – black beans
• Pollo Guisado – a traditional Puerto Rican chicken stew
• Tres Leches cake – a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and whole milk.

My Thoughts/Conclusion

I was a little nervous and awkward at the beginning of the trip, fearing that I would mess up and embarrass myself while learning to dance. But it became a lot less stressful when I realized that everyone else felt the same way. By the end of the trip, everyone seemed comfortable and was having a good time. Overall, the Spanish Club Trip was a lot of fun and definitely worth going to, and I am looking forward to the next one!