This past Monday, our senior student leaders had the opportunity to visit Christopher Columbus High School for a Salsa Mixer celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. This beloved senior tradition offers students a chance to learn about appropriate social decorum, mutual respect, and positive interactions. As an all-girls school, partnering with our brother school, Christopher Columbus High School, creates a valuable space for students from both communities to engage meaningfully and practice these important social skills. These lessons are essential in helping our students build the confidence and interpersonal abilities they will need as they transition into adulthood.
Excitement was high as the Lourdes girls gathered at the OLLA parking lot, greeted by Columbus-plastered school buses ready to whisk them away for a day of dancing at our brother school. Upon arriving at the Columbus gym, the scene resembled an airport arrivals terminal as Lourdes girls were welcomed by Columbus seniors holding posters with their assigned dance partners’ names. The girls made their way to the bleachers to meet their partners for the day.
“I was super nervous to meet my partner since it was random but when I came up to him he was super nice and funny,” senior Olivia Iraola said.
Returning to instruct this tradition 88th St Studio, directed by Annia Ballagas conducted the private salsa class. Lasting for about two hours, students began by learning the basic steps without their partners. They then were instructed on dancing salsa combos with their partners.
“At first the steps were hard to follow, but together we accomplished it and did great,” senior Valeria Rincon said. “By the end we looked actually good dancing a whole salsa combo.”
By the end of the lessons students were in a circle within a couple of couple seconds rotating between new partners. This allowed for girls to not only get to know their partners but the rest of the boys participating. The day wrapped up with a sweet surprise: the Columbus senior boys crowned their corresponding partners as “Salsa Queens,” a charming finale to a memorable day.
