Those attending Noche de Gala, an annual National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration hosted by Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, will get to see traditional costarricense folklorico dancing, among other performances.
Scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 22 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Plaza, the event honors Latinx and Hispanic cultures through educational activities, performances, cultural cuisines and music.
Evelyn Gutierrez, a cell and molecular biology junior from Houston, has been dancing costarricense folklorico, or Costa Rican folk dance, since she was 3 years old. This is her fourth year performing at Noche de Gala.
“My dance is a family tradition that my mother taught me,” said Gutierrez, who also is president of SFA’s Organization of Latin Americans. “I think my dance is important because, though a lot of people in this area are exposed to the Mexican culture, they never get to experience other Latin countries’ cultures.”
Students, staff, faculty and the Nacogdoches community are invited to join in the free celebration, said Ammy Martinez, an OMA ambassador and a senior human services major from Donna.
“Noche de Gala is meant to give the Latinx/Hispanic community on campus a moment to celebrate our culture and heritage and have a night filled with good fun and family,” Martinez said.
For more information, contact the OMA at (936) 468-1073 or sfasu.edu/oma.
