East Lansing resident Margarita Gonzales knows her daughter will become a star.
"She's just this gusty independent 12-year-old who can step on the stage and own the world," she said. "She usually sings with her brother and sister who are out of the country, but tonight, she shines."
On Friday, her daughter, Marliz, took the stage at Wharton Center's Pasant Theatre to sing "Besitos" and "Por un Amor" as part of Latin Xplosion, an annual Chicano/Latino talent show.
"'Besitos' is more of a pop song, while the other is mariachi," Margarita Gonzales said. "I love to come to events like this to support MSU.
"We need more events like this, because we need to lead the way."
Latin Xplosion showcases some of the most creative waves of multicultural entertainment on MSU's campus and within the East Lansing community. The variety show is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Culturas de las Razas Unidas, ASMSU and the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs.
From acts like the break dancing group "Non Stop Action Crew" to Robbie Ortega's film "Dialect Red," the audience enjoyed an eclectic multitude of entertainment.
"I came to witness the talent of my Latino brothers and sisters," psychology junior Mia Braxton said. "The culture is rich in talent and flavor."
The five-member group "Non Stop Action Crew" took the stage in military garb to the beat of hip-hop music and began break dancing.
With headstands to horizontal kicking and swirling legs, the group covered many elements of the art.
"The break dancing made me want to start break dancing myself," accounting junior Mark Williams said. "It was very entertaining to see people breaking dancing, because it seems like a lost art.
"It's also good to see other cultures doing it."
The first act, a 16-piece mariachi band, performed traditional mariachi music with cheers and whistles from the audience.
"I like going to culture events from diverse backgrounds," interdisciplinary studies in social science and pre-law sophomore Nyasha Anderson said. "I love the music and dancing."
Three women in elegant pink and white dresses twirled in circles like leaves in an autumn breeze, in "Baile Folklorico" or a folklore dance.
The girls gently pulled up edges of their dresses, flapping them in the air.
"This is my first time at Latin Xplosion and I'm really looking forward to the dancing," elementary education junior Shalini Prasad said. "I really enjoy Latin music and the way people move to it."
Mechanical engineering sophomore Jose Quintero took the stage to perform his poem "Race," which detailed common stereotypes associated with a person's ethnicity.
"To get our culture in the mainstream we must entertain, but our culture is not entertainment," he said in a verse of the poem. "My Latino is not my race and my race is not my skin color."
While many students came to partake in the activities, some such as advertising sophomore Sasha Williams came to be educated.
"This is a good way to learn about their culture," she said. "I'm interested in understanding what they do for entertainment and the way they dance."
Chrystal Griffin can be reached at griff242@msu.edu.
