Showcasing creativity and culture, Ahora! celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month last Saturday in Levin Ballroom with its main event titled, "Making History: Ahora! MaSana y Siempre (Now, Tomorrow and Always)." The variety show included traditional and contemporary Latino and Hispanic dance numbers, spoken word pieces and skits that attacked stereotypes about Hispanic culture. Ahora!'s aimed to display the importance of reaching for the future while holding onto cultural roots. The result of this evening full of flavor was a show that put entertainment over education, winning over the audience all the while revealing what fun Ahora! had in producing their event (a behind-the-scenes video shown as the finale drove this point home).

The event opened with "Banderas con Orgullo," a flag-bearing processional of nations. Students danced across the stage holding a country's flag while a slideshow in the back displayed the nation's capital, date of independence and seal. The entire group of flag bearers gathered at the end of the processional, each wearing a shirt with a letter of the event's title, "Ahora! MaSana y Siempre." Showcasing the large number of Hispanic nations was a wonderful way to open the show and emphasize the extent of the Hispanic culture throughout the world.

Dance numbers dominated the night's production, ranging from salsa to hip-hop to Southeast Asian dance. The show explored the wide variety of Latino dance from merengue to the Argentinean tango-an improvisational dance based on the principal of lead and follow.

Other pieces showcased the influences other cultures had on Hispanic and Latino dance. "Viva Hip-Hop Raggaeton," for instance, audaciously demonstrated the fusion of Latin American and Jamaican dance with sexy spins and flashy footwork. Ahora! also sought to incorporate other cultural clubs into the Main Event, such as the South Asian Student Association (SASA). Their result was Flava and Spice," a dance so sizzling and sexy it made University President Jehuda Reinharz, who was in attendance, turn red.

Two spoken word pieces added a more serious tone to the event and forced students to reflect on politics and cultural perceptions within America. Candis Bellamy '06 presented an impassioned speech called, "Long Winded: The Truth as I Know It," in which she bitterly reflected on the difficulties minorities face in America, tackling issues such as the wealth gap and racial prejudice.

Later, Brandon Luk '06 in "The Point of No Return" angrily addressed his opposition to the war in Iraq and the Bush administration. While each speaker had forceful delivery and a heartfelt message that brought their points home to the audience, both presentations were characterized by a decidedly negative tone in an event whose premise was to celebrate the hope and promise Hispanic and Latino races.

Combining silliness and seriousness in skits was Teatro Revolution, a group inspired by theatrical troupe founded by Luis Valdez, often regarded as the father of Chicano theater. Teatro Revolution performed a three-part sketch that spoofing reality TV shows such as American Idol and The Real World while addressing common stereotypes of Hispanic and Latino culture. Their presentation stressed that Hispanics and Latinos shouldn't be lumped as a single group, but rather should be celebrated for the wide range of races and cultural variations their ethnicity encompasses.

It is with this message in mind that Ahora! did not fully follow through on their aim that their program pamphlet stated, "Celebrating our diversity." While Teatro Revolution emphasized the importance of recognizing the cultural differences among Hispanic and Latino races, they failed to state what these differences were. Whole presentations were well rehearsed and muy caliente, there was not as much effort put into detailing the differences between each country's historical and cultural uniqueness. Educational aspects of the program were pushed aside into brief spoken commentary between skits on culture and famous figures and to a little-noticed placard outside Levin on renowned Hispanic and Latino authors. A similar point could be applied to some of the dance presentations. In "Del Cielo Hasta la Tierra," it was difficult to determine which elements of the dance itself were Korean and which were South American. "Flava and Spice" was supposed to be a fusion of Latino and Indian dance. However that number showcased Latino styles of dance like salsa and merengue with a section of awkward Indian dance thrown in. It seemed as more emphasis was put on making the dance number hot than stressing differences between cultural heritages.

Yet if Ahora!'s goal at their Main Event 2004 was to entertain their audience, they more than succeeded. "Flava and Spice" and the "Nuestra Identidad" fashion presentation had the whole crowd energized and singing along. The comical acting in Teatro Revolution's production, especially by the three "Latino Idol" judges, had the audience in hysterics. More importantly, each participant's energy and love for their culture radiated from the stage and made the entire show a delight to watch.

Ahora!'s Main Event 2004 may not have provided the most in-depth cultural commentary. But more importantly, the audience certainly left Levin Ballroom that night extremely entertained and with a greater appreciation for Hispanic and Latino culture.