Students Explore the Latin Culture of Toronto

The day began with a musical bus ride into the city. Students listened to the different Latin musical genres that they would dance to later that day. It was lovely to hear that some students were already speaking to each other in Spanish on the ride. The first stop was Lula Lounge, a venue for live Latin music, Latin dance lessons, and delicious food in Toronto. The adventure began right away as students hit the dance floor for a dynamic and fun dance lesson with Cuban professional dancer and instructor, Dailyn Martinez. She taught both Bachata and Merengue lessons, two types of dances that originated from the Dominican Republic. She was so impressed with their skills, that she even threw in a quick overview lesson of how to dance the Salsa, which ended up being a favourite with many of the students. After all of that dancing, students built up an appetite, so it was time for a traditional Cuban lunch which included Fricasé de pollo (a chicken dish), arroz congri (rice and beans), and pastel de tres leches (the dessert).

 

The final portion of the day was a new component of this trip. Students bundled up and headed out into the sunny city to the Dundas Open Air Museum. Many outdoor wall murals and art were seen and learned about with our local guide, Marie-Paule, who could skillfully and quickly code switch from Spanish, to English, to even French, in an instant. She explained about the significance and artistic styles of the pieces, many of which were created by Hispanic artists. There were also interactive components where students used their smart phones to enter into virtual augmented reality portions of the tour.

 

This was truly an unforgettable experience. It was nice to bond as a group and see students embrace new cultures and activities!