Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 1995)
Festival provides setting for Hispanic celebration By Doug Kerns Staff Reporter It was a day of color and fun followed by a night of rhythm and dance. But more importantly, festival-goers said, Saturday’s Hispanic Heritage Festival pro vided time for a community in the spotlight to come together with its neighbors to re member what is good. “It allows me to celebrate who I am in the town I love. That’s pretty cool,” said festi val-goer Pablo Rangel of Lincoln. Following the death of Francisco Renteria last year, the Hispanic community suddenly found itself under the glare of media lights and the focus of public discussion. Renteria died Oct. 1 after a struggle with police. This past year has been marked by court dates involving Lincoln police officers and a fire department captain. To some, the His panic community’s public image has been defined by the tragic case. Festival Chairman Eliot Rivas said the media focus on the Renteria case came at the expense of the Hispanic community as a whole. Dwelling on the year-old case de tracts from the pro-active nature of the festi val, he said. The festival was held at the State Fair Agricultural Hall. “The turnout was above what was ex pected,” Rivas said, “from a wide variety of cultures.” The hall was filled with booths offering goods and services for a variety of needs— from flutes and rainsticks to intergenerational networking and family services. Vendors preparing foods from many Latino cultures offered a delicious backdrop to the day’s events, with foods from several nations including the Philippines, El Salva dor, Chile, Venezuela and Mexico. “The food is a big part of what it’s all about,” one satisfied festival patron said. Several activities were aimed at the “It alloivs me to celebrate who lam in the town I love. That's pretty cool." PABLO RANGEL Festival-goer younger people attending the festival. Kids were entertained by a musical puppet show and a pinata contest, fascinated by entomol ogy Professor Ackland Jones’ “Bugs and Butterflies” and delighted by friendly and fuzzy llamas. A selection of work by Mario Bravio from the “Sense of Culture” exhibit in the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery was displayed, Rivas said, and showed an example of the power of Latino artistic creativity. Many other activities marked the day, including the percussive artistry of Senegal master drummer Mane Badiane. The whirl ing, graceful talent of the Latino Contempo dancers, performances by Lincoln’s Senior Zapatos Alegres and the Capital City Cloggers also entertained the crowd. “It’s an activity that you can only do once a year,” said Molly Rangel of Lincoln. “And it means something. I wish we could do this every weekend.” The dance, which lasted until after mid night, began as the lights dimmed and the night heated up with tne sweet, intoxicating Tex/Mex melodies of Lincoln’s own Futura and the powerful percussion and striking horns of Kansas City’s Mambo X. The night was infused with an electric sparkle that packed the dance floor and drew the rhythm from everyone in the audience. The two bands performed successive half hour sets, sliding smoothly into romantic music for slow dancing, then pepping things up with a touch of salsa. -— 'lecture Notes • Course Packets • Resume Services • Copy & Bindery *PAX Service • Laminating Grade A NoteTakers are Seniors and Grad Students. They attend class and take accurate and complete lecture notes. These notes can make great supplemental study guides. i Anthro 110 BioSci 312 History 101 Astron 103 Chem 251 Mngmt 475 BioSci 101 Crim Just 101 Nutr151 BioSci 112 Econ 321 Poli Sei 100 Bio Sci 241 Geog 140 Fin/Econ 365 ■ Semester Lecture Notes Sale TODAY through September 23, 1995 $23.00 Purchase a class lecture subscription today, for only $23.00, and receive a FREE Nebraska Academic Planner, which includes over $35.00 in valuable Nebraska Bookstore coupons. Grade A Notes at Nebraska Bookstore Lower Level • 13th & Q Street • 477-7400 • Lecture Notes • Course Packets • Resume Services i -§ Receive $1 00 off any fax service with SSSSRom COUPWP* corner. Expires 1/1/96. Grade A Notes at Nebraska Bookstore Lower Level • 13th & Q Street • 477-7400 Introducing Sunscreen ^ T v Precision UV' SOFT CONTACT LENSES The Waked Eye 5601 So. 56tU Sute 104D TIhe AIamo Center UncoIn, hC 68516 (402) 421-7775 It's What's Between The Ears That Counts. Where do you go to gain "real world" experience in a college-level program? Use your head. Think Disney! Representatives will be on campus to answer all your questions about the WALT DISNEY WORLD College Program. World Co. V O The Walt Disney Company Interviewing: All majors for positions throughout theme parks and resorts. Positions include attractions, food & beverage, merchandise, lifeguarding, horti culture, among many others. Presentation Date: September 21, 1995 Time: 7:00pm Location: Nebraska Union For more information, contact: Student Employment & Internship Center An Equal Opportunity Employer Drawing Creativity from Diversity ■*" 1 Ml -■. ' ' 1 ■ ---—--------:---:--- '