The 22nd annual Festival Latinoamericano in Downtown Provo presented unity within the diversity of Latino culture through music, food and art on Labor Day weekend.
The festival involved many performing groups and vendors showcasing a colorful variety of traditions and cultures from Latin American countries.
As dancers whirled across the stage and musicians played a mix of classic and modern tunes, attendees enjoyed a handful of traditional foods and drinks such as horchata, esquites and arepas.
The director of the festival shows, Alicia Ines Ortal, has been a part of this event since the beginning.
“The most beautiful thing of all was to see the happiness of the people who were sitting watching, especially as I went up and down and presented,” Ortal said. “I was able to observe the faces and the expressions of the people who were seated, and I really loved to see the older people who sometimes got emotional and shed a few tears.”
BYU student Brittany Orzuna was present at the festival and said she has attended every year since studying at BYU.
She said seeing the variety there is within the booths at the festival is one of the event’s highlights for her and that the festival creates a sense of belonging with people who hold similar values.
“Whether or not you are from a different country, you can value what traditions they have,” Orzuna said.
The festival put on a wide variety of dances and live music performances, hosting mariachi bands, folklorico dancers, and dance groups such as BAFODACH, a Chilean dance ensemble.
For certain musical numbers, the audience joined in, dancing in front of the stage. The event allowed for people to connect with their own countries’ cultures, as well as enjoy experiencing the traditions of other Latin American countries.
Piero Góngora, a dancer for BAFODACH, performed with his group on Saturday, Aug. 31. He said performing in the festival was an honor, as it is a way to share his culture and traditions with others.
“It is an event that doesn’t only promote the Latino culture within Latino communities, but also shows a different perspective to those who aren’t Latinos … so they can get to know Latinos more intimately, what we believe, what is our culture and how we are all brothers and sisters.”
The event started as a way to help people who didn’t have much connection with others in the community and their resources, according to Ortal. It has grown greatly in the last 22 years, but still fulfills the primary purpose of connecting people to the community.