On January 24 and 25, Irvington MEChA hosted Ritmo Latino, an annual show celebrating Latino culture and music. Ritmo Latino dazzled the crowd with performances from Español classes Spanish 1, 2, and 3, as well as cultural dances from MEChA. This year, two shows were hosted, and doors opened at 6:00 pm. Parents, students, and family members made their way inside the Valhalla Theater to enjoy the show.
To begin the show, emcees Reilly Akana (12), Lawrence Jia (12), and Allison Young (11) warmly welcomed the crowd and engaged them through entertaining introductions, including a pushup contest that encouraged audience member participation. “A lot of us in the coordinator team wanted to be an emcee and believed we could do it. By making jokes that use the names of songs and dance teams, we were able to create a light-hearted and engaging mood for the audience,” explained emcee and coordinator Reilly Akana (12).
The first act was by Sazón Latino from MEChA and they performed the song “Carnival de Arequipa”. With flowy colorful dresses and upbeat music, this first performance set the stage for the following ones. The next few acts featured all students from Señor Ballado, Señora Buell, and Señora Zendejas’ Spanish classes. Students performed dances to songs including “El Taqui Taqui”, “Mi Gente”, and “Hips Don’t Lie”. Mrs. Dotzeva’s dance class also performed the songs “Yo No Sé” and “Pablo Mas”.
There were new performances this year, including a duet between Saavi Ramteke (12) and Señora Zendejas. Saavi Ramteke (12) stated, “It was amazing to perform a duet with Maestra. We had been practicing before the show and that effort definitely paid off.” Their harmonized performance of songs like “Que Agonía” lifted the crowd’s spirits, having them cheering with excitement. In addition, the “Brown Boy Squad” also brought their energetic dance moves to the stage for the Hindi song, “Senorita” — their performance marking a blend of cultures.
“This was my third and last year doing Ritmo and it was really fun,” exclaimed Suhani Ahuja (12). “I’ve learned a lot about Latino culture and gained a new appreciation for it. It was a really exciting experience, and dancing with my friends on stage was an experience I wouldn’t trade anything for,” said Ahuja (12). Throughout performances, the bright colors of costumes and stage lighting and the enthusiastic expressions of students created a warm atmosphere for the audience.
Unlike past years’ shows, MEChA incorporated a surprise performance this year. Midway through the show, dancers took the stage, aisle, and walkways in Valhalla holding Latino flags with pride as the energetic music played. Soon after, snacks, including tamales and paletas, were sold to enjoy during intermission.
Reilly Akana (12) noted, “I think one aspect I enjoyed of the show was the community. We all got really close as we spent every day in Ballado’s room together, making sure the show would come out in the best possible way. It was honestly amazing to work with everyone and dive into Hispanic culture.”
The show ended with a warm thank you from the entire MEChA team and MEChA advisor Señor Ballado, who all poured their hearts and souls into the show.
“Planning Ritmo is such a wild experience. Honestly, it’s one of the most stressful times of the year for MEChA, but seeing it all come to life is so beautiful. Being able to share our culture and stage with so many people is truly fulfilling,” reflected MEChA President Melanie Chavez (12).
