Teenagers use day off from school to host Latin dance party to promote cultural diversity – Muddy River News

QUINCY — When given a day off from school, most teenagers choose to spend the day playing video games, watching Netflix or running with their friends.

Xavier Richardson and his friends Chris Tu and Austin Mondon aren’t like most teenagers.

Richardson, a freshman at Quincy High School, Tu and Mondon, both sophomores, teamed up with dance instructor Ignacio Anguiano-Reyes to offer a free Latin dance class Monday morning at the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center , 639 York.

“We wanted to do something educational and good for the public,” Richardson said. “We also wanted to tie it to culture.”

In addition to being Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day, Monday was also one of the last days of Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15.

Richardson’s mother, Christine Richardson, helped the boys organize the event.

“(The boys) feel like, you know, this world is a big, diverse world, and not every kid in Quincy has the opportunity to travel,” Christine said. “(Then) bring it to them here. »

Participants learned to dance meringue and the Cuban variation of salsa.

“It’s fluid,” Anguiano-Reyes said. “Suave.”

Anguiano-Reyes, 82, has been teaching Latin dance classes for more than 25 years. He began dancing at a young age in Mexico City during family celebrations of various Catholic sacraments. He said dancing his whole life has kept him in great shape over the years.

“I’m a blessed person,” he said, “(to be able to continue) dancing.”

Anguiano-Reyes offers Latin dance classes at John Wood Community College. The next session begins on October 30 and will take place on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. until November 20.