Students celebrated in a joyful fiesta that honored the heritage of seven Latin American countries on Día de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead.
More than 200 students participated in the event, according to Adrian Bautista, a BYU student and section leader for the Mexican dances. Students performed dances native to Peru, Guatemala, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela and Mexico. All were welcome to participate in the event, regardless of race, experience or dancing ability.
“I’m not a dancer at all, and I’m over here teaching people how to dance,” Bautista said.
Bautista said it was a special experience to help students connect with their culture. He explained that one of his students was hesitant to participate because she was biracial and looked more Caucasian.
“She was scared that she wasn’t going to be welcomed because she didn’t look the part,” Bautista said.
However, Bautista reemphasized to her that all were welcome, and it was not necessary to fit a certain stereotype in order to participate in the event. He found that it was a rewarding experience “to help her be proud of her own culture and let her know that she belongs with us.”
Section leaders such as Bautista were in charge of teaching the choreography, finding suppliers for the intricate costumes and scheduling rehearsals. It was a challenging task to coordinate so many schedules of busy college students and motivate them to put in the commitment for the rehearsals, which began in mid-September, Bautista said.
“You have to have a lot of love and patience,” Valentina Duenas, another section leader, said.
Despite the hectic challenges that came from organizing such a large group of students, the section leaders found the experience rewarding.
“It’s been a really awesome experience, and I think it’s brought a lot of people together and it’s beautiful to see the different cultures represented,” Augustin Navarrete, a student employee at BYU Multicultural Services, said.
Duenas agreed, adding her thoughts.
“I think in the end it is very comforting to know, because we’re all children of God, and it’s wonderful to see how, even though they’re not from the same country or culture, they want to participate,” Duenas said.
Bautista has big dreams for the future of BYU's Fiesta event.
“My biggest hope is that the population changes and it’s a more diverse audience,” Bautista said. “This isn’t just for us and our people."
The purpose of the BYU Fiesta is to teach about the rich Latin American culture.
The participants of the fiesta hope that someday the event will grow big enough to take place in the Marriott Center.