Wearing a gold loincloth and sparkle body paint, Ricardo Leon blew his whistle to kick off the Latin Xplosion talent show Saturday night at Fairchild Theatre. Dressed in Mardi Gras costumes, 10 dancers followed each other down the aisles of the theater and threw candy to the audience.
An annual event during Chicano History Month, Latin Xplosion is a showcase for Chicano and Latino talent, said Leon, a Culturas de las Razas Unidas member. The human resource management sophomore served as a co-presenter for the night.
"A lot of people don't really get an opportunity to show their talents," Leon said. "We provide it for them."
The two-hour performance included musicians, a singer, traditional dancers and two-step shows by multicultural sororities.
In between acts, Leon kept the crowd laughing with quips about the performers and attempts to mimic dance moves in his tiny Mardi Gras costume.
No-preference sophomore Nieves Arzola said the planning committee chose the theme "Carnaval" this year because the show coincided with the beginning of the Carnaval celebration in Brazil. In the 1800s, Carnaval developed as an outlet for wild behavior before the beginning of Lent, 40 days of fasting and praying by Roman Catholics.
The first act to take the stage was the group Xochiquetzal from Saginaw. Two couples dressed in traditional Mexican clothes danced in unison along to the music.
It was the first time the group has performed in East Lansing, dancer Clara Menchaca said, explaining that each region in Mexico has different costumes and a distinct style of dancing.
Comedian Jose Villagran also came to the stage, blending humor and seriousness in his act. While poking fun at a Chicano and Latino habit of alternating English and Spanish phrases in conversation, Villagran also slid in a deeper message.
"When it comes down to it, there is a lot of discrimination. It can only be overcome by unity," the economics freshman said. "Our voices are a lot stronger than we think."
During several of the performances, members of the audience waved large Mexican flags and sang along to popular Mexican songs.
The second half of the show included a step performance by a Latina sorority, Sigma Lambda Gamma.
"It's a mixture of noises made with hands, feet and voices," Gianelle Rivera, a interdisciplinary studies in social science sophomore, said.
No-preference sophomore Raul Saucedo said he came to Latin Xplosion to support some of his friends who were performing.
"It's good to have something from back home," he said, "something I can relate to."
