Latin Fest Brings Diverse Cultures to the Stage

A variety of traditional outfits brought color to the auditorium. *Photo: Midwood Instagram*

By ISABELLA MASON and SABRINE UDDIN

Reaching a crescendo of exhilaration, the Hornets buzzed around in excitement as an energetic burst of Brazilian funk kicked off Midwood’s fourth Latin Festival on October 24.

On the stage, senior Estefani Garcia introduced an impressive variety of performances that showcased the diversity of Latin America, with music that ranged from the infectious beats of Panama reggaeton to the vibrant rhythms of Garifuna punta.

“It's everything you could really want,” said acting director Luke Cooper ’26. “All of [the students] are so proud to represent their culture.”

The festival opened with a story centering a Puerto Rican family immigrating to the United States. Throughout the night, the play invited the audience to embark on a journey with this family to explore the beauty of Latin culture through lively dance, cultural songs, and the modeling of traditional clothing.

Dancers first performed to reggaeton’s distinctive repetitive beat. Following this lively dance, the play continued before quickly being interrupted by a Latin American parade, where dancers gracefully filed in for “Con la Botella en la Cabeza” and “La Iguana.”

Even Hispanic students found themselves learning something new. “I’m Mexican, but I’d never heard of tribal dance in Mexico,” said Jaret Bravo ‘25, dance director for Latin Fest. “We did it this year to embrace how Mexican culture has modernized.”

Other students found joy in being able to represent a culture different from their own. “Although this isn't my culture, it’s my friend's culture, and I wanted to help them display it,” said Courtney Hodge ‘25.

This year’s rendition of Latin Fest represented even more countries than last year’s, from Haiti to Brazil to Venezuela, to show the diversity of Hispanic cultures. “When someone sees me, they wouldn’t assume that I’m Afro-Latina,” said model director and dance choreographer Ronanatha Wishart ‘25. “It's good now that we get to represent more countries and show that not all Afro-Latinos are from the Dominican Republic or Panama.”

“I like that they’re trying to branch out,” said Serenity Eaddy ‘25, who played Mama and Clara in the show. “I think that’s really important to be diverse and inclusive for the people who come to watch these shows.”

Audience members cheered on the student actors as they depicted the family’s struggles. “They’re immigrants from Puerto Rico, so it’s representative of what my ancestors went through coming to New York,” said Eaddy.

Dance director Amy Diaz ‘25 shared the same sentiment. “Growing up, I was a little ashamed of being Hispanic, but being in a school where Latin culture is represented, I feel understood,” she said.

Latin Fest not only highlighted more countries than ever before, it also gave Midwood students an avenue to explore their talents.

“Latin Fest taught me how to blend interests of mine, like my passion for singing and performance,” singer Danielle Escobar ‘25 explained. “It taught me to do what I love. As long as I do that, I’ll make something good out of it.”

“For me, I never thought of art and my culture in the same picture, so being art director gave me the opportunity to reconnect with my roots and feel proud of my culture,” said Sierra Kelly ‘25.

The festival ended with a heartwarming scene where the characters hugged each other after learning what it meant to be a family. This touching moment was balanced with a dash of humor, leaving the audience smiling as the curtain fell on an unforgettable night.

“I want people to see that Latin Fest is not something you do just for fun or the credit,” said sound director Devon Li. “Latin Fest is showing off your country and having fun learning about these countries and the amazing things that go on there.”