On Wednesday Nov. 6, Spanish 4=IV students hopped on the bus to visit the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum to watch and participate in the Hispanic Flamenco Ballet along with many other students from local schools. Spanish teachers and Spanish Club advisors Mrs. Llerena and Mrs. Kissel accompanied the students on the trip.
The performance showcased six main dancers and four band members. Performers utilized different songs and dances to highlight aspects of Hispanic culture from Latin American countries like Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Argentina as well as Spain. On top of the performance, there was a virtual learning video incorporated throughout the show that allowed for students to practice their Spanish listening skills while also learning more about the Hispanic countries that were being featured in the performance.
Some of the dances featured in the show were the Jarabe, the Salsa, and the Zapateado. In combination with showcasing dances from different Hispanic countries, dancers also wore various outfits matching the style of dances they performed. During the Jarabe, for example, the dancers wore puffy, colorful dancing gowns and sombreros.
“I really like the dance with the large yellow gowns and the feathered headpieces,” said Grace Fleckenstein, Spanish Club Secretary.
Some band members played different instruments such as the violin and trumpet while another drummed on a speaker to re-create the sound of a base. The main singer also sang different Hispanic songs while the band played and the performers danced.
At the conclusion of the show, students who were given a free dance ticket by their teachers were asked to go on stage and practice the new dance moves they just learned. Students from all schools joined the dancers on stage to follow their steps as their peers laughed and cheered in the audience.
“My favorite part was the interactive part at the end of the show where students participated in dancing on stage with the dancers,” said Theo Summers, partnering Spanish Club Vice President.
After the conclusion of the show, the students took a short stroll around downtown Pittsburgh to get to their final destination of the trip; The Colombian Spot. Featuring various options of authentic Colombian-style dishes such as Empanadas, Ropa Vieja, and Yuca Fries, The Colombian Spot is a popular cultural restaurant for hungry passers. Some of the most popular choices amongst the students were the different types of natural juices offered, Arepas, and yellow rice.
“I got a veggie bowl, and it was definitely different from what I’ve had before, but it was still good,”said senior Kayla Lovell.
Students also had an opportunity to walk along the street that the Colombian Spot sat. Some students stopped into a coffee shop to grab a latte while others returned with Insomnia Cookies half-eaten. Once everyone had finished their meals, the students walked back through the city, admiring the views and stopping to take a picture in front of the Cathedral of Learning, to board their bus and head back home.
Students returned to school at the beginning of 9th period to tell their friends about the beautiful, unique cultural performance they had experienced.
