Amelia Ciarleglio ’27
On Saturday, April 13, 2024, the Latin American Student Organization hosted the 24th annual Noche Latina at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. The theme of the event was “The Unfolding Family Tree: Las Fuentes del Pasado Alimentando Nuestras Raíces.” The venue was a dreamy pastel blue decorated with shimmering twinkle lights. Noche Latina was a vibrant celebration of Latin culture with over 480 guests, including Holy Cross students, professors, and friends from the Worcester community. At the beginning of the night, guests could enjoy a delicious meal catered by Nuestra Catering, a local Worcester catering company.
The formal dress code was no challenge for the guests, as they came dressed in luxurious gowns and suits. What really stood out was the LASO E-board, who looked stunning in their pastel blue attire.
The night began with Edgar Román Almánzar reading a touching poem about his home, the Dominican Republic, with Christina Bui skillfully playing the guitar. What followed was a traditional Colombian dance starring Nicole Sarmiento and Ethan Courcelle. The thoughtful dance moves and traditional Colombian apparel really demonstrated their love for their culture. Afterwards the Kxplosion dance team brought the energy with their amazing choreography to “Perfect Night” by Le Sserafim, “Bola Rebola (M3B Remix)” by Tropkillaz, “Jenny From the Block” by JLo, and “Batter Up” by Baby Monster. A special touch to the event was curated videos that asked the LASO E-Board members about belonging and how they connect to their Latin origins. Other questions were humorous, including the question of what E-board member would last the least amount of time in the Hunger Games. The E-board members’ video messages were extremely meaningful and really exemplified their appreciation for their culture and community, while also showing off their bubbly personalities.
Followed by the duet was Guero SFR, and the band hyped up the audience to the point where the whole crowd was singing along. Afterwards, Nicole Sarmiento and Ethan Courcelle performed a heartwarming duet which displayed their amazing vocals. Their harmonization had the entire audience in awe. Another spectacular dance performance was performed by Holy Cross’s very own hip-hop dance team, Fusion. Another amazing soloist was Karla Gonzalez, and her vocals were incredible. Additionally, the dance team Roots performed, and they were so synchronized that it was hypnotizing to watch. Last but certainly not least, Latinidad Identidad performed many impressive dances, including Kompa, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton, and Dembow.
The Latinidad Identidad dance partners performed beautifully together. Throughout the night, MCs Emely Garcia, Josel Perez, Annalise Rhoden, and Michel Mondesir were so entertaining and kept the crowd engaged. From dance battles to trivia, the MCs knew how to captivate the audience’s attention. Overall, Noche Latina created a greater sense of community through music and artistic expression, all while sharing a delicious meal with friends.
Copyedited by Caroline Kramer
The Spire 