Oct. 30, 2013
Vol. 2 Issue 133
SAILORS SHARE CULTURE WITH DANCE Story by MCSN Eric M. Butler
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f you ever wanted to learn a dance that works with a variety of different musical styles, is fun and looks great, consider Latin dance. There are many types of Latin dances to suit anyone from beginners to advanced. Salsa, merengue, and bachata are some styles recently seen at the steel beach picnic and Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. For almost two months, they were taught in classes led by Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Cora J. Garcia, from Chicago. Garcia was part of the multicultural committee and volunteered to lead a dance class that practiced Latin dances. While it was the first time she taught an official class, teaching Latin dance has been a part of her life and family since childhood. “Growing up I used to teach dance, salsa and
merengue, to the kids in the neighborhood,” said Garcia. “I actually used to perform during a Puerto Rican parade. It was like a week-long celebration in Chicago and we would have a bunch of different dancers performing in different groups, so I used to be part of that.” Garcia said that as the Hispanic Heritage celebration approached, dance practice went from about three or four days a week to two hours every night but Sunday and that some people learned Latin dance for the first time. Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Alexis M. Suarez, from Westbury, N.Y., joined the dance class when the ship-wide invitation went out. Suarez said he already knew how to dance from a young age, but there were still new things he learned at the class. “They taught me to Continues on page 3