AP Spanish students, along with Spanish Teacher Señora Maria Morrongiello, embarked on their long-anticipated field trip to a live Hispanic cultural show on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The hour-long production, held at the Jeanne Rimsky Theater in Port Washington, featured live music and dances from several Latin American countries.

The show began by briefly describing the origins of songs and dances that were integral to the country’s cultural background. Afterwards, professional dancers dressed in traditional costumes custom to the country would enter the stage and start the performance. The dancers were accompanied by talented musicians including a singer, pianist, violinist, and drummer.

The first country presented was Mexico. The cast performed the Spanish version of songs from the popular Disney movie Coco, including “Un Poco Loco” and “Remember Me.” Senior Arpie Bakhshian stated, “My favorite part was when they sang ‘Un Poco Loco.’ I love the movie, and it was nice to hear a familiar tune performed. It was especially interesting to hear it sung in Spanish and draw similarities to the English version.”   

Following Mexico, the production featured countries from Central and South America. The Argentinian performance presented the famous tango, while the cha-cha-cha was danced during the Cuban production. In addition, Brazil danced the samba and Colombia performed the Cumbia. The dances were made livelier by the intricate costumes worn that helped to further immerse the performers into the Hispanic culture. Senior Jordan Lunati stated, “Seeing the different types of dances from many countries was so great and entertaining. It gave an insight into the different techniques and styles of the dances in Spanish-speaking countries.”

The Spanish trip was especially meaningful to students with Hispanic roots, as they got to celebrate their culture with peers. Senior Elena Grajales, who has both Colombian and Brazilian ancestry, and visits both countries regularly, stated, “The Spanish trip brought me back to times when I saw dancers in florid costumes during Carnival in Salvador. When I think of going to Brazil and Colombia, I think of family and there is nothing that can replace that feeling.”

The experience was also an interactive one for the students. During the production, the drummer began interacting with the audience by having the students repeat rhythms he played on the drums. Afterwards, audience volunteers were selected to dance on stage, including two of Lynbrook’s very own: Seniors Djellza Pulatani and Sara Bahri. Pulatani stated, “I loved dancing on stage! It was so fun to immerse myself into the experience.” Bakhshian added, “It was nice to see our classmates performing as we cheered them on. They were naturals at it!”

After the production ended, the students eagerly headed to Mesita in Rockville Centre for an authentic Mexican lunch. Chips and salsa were provided, along with cheese quesadillas with guacamole, all before entrees were served. For the main dish, students had the option of chicken, steak, or vegetable tacos with yellow rice and beans. Pulatani stated, “I ordered chicken tacos, and I have to say, they were scrumptious!” Grajales added, “The vegetable tacos were muy deliciosos.” For dessert, students munched on churros and melted chocolate. “The Spanish trip was definitely a rewarding experience! It was nice to take our classroom knowledge and apply it in a real-world scenario,” said Bakhshian.