The Hispanic Heritage Showcase is a yearly event put together by Mr. Gomez, and the Performing Arts Club (PAC), which consists of stage crew, tech crew, and Drama Club.
Mr. Gomez spends class time teaching students the songs that will be performed at the showcase. When asked which songs he thought most people would recognize, he replied, “The three most popular songs we’re going to play are, ‘Bidi Bidi Bom Bom’ and ‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’ for the band performance, and ‘On Your Feet’ as part of the musical theatre performance.” Mr. Gomez replied when he asked what he thought would be the songs most people would recognize when attending the showcase.
The show was held on Wednesday, September 24th and Thursday, September 25th. Students were welcomed to attend school day performances with their class, and a night performance was offered for friends and families to attend. Junior Sarah Palacios, the stage manager, was asked who she thought had the most important jobs in the showcase. She replied, “It is a team effort where stage crew and tech crew must work in unison to make the shows work.” This sense of collaboration highlights how close everyone involved in the showcase is, functioning like a family. “I love the Hispanic Heritage Showcase because it is a great display of culture and pride from our Hispanic students. Each one shows a piece of who they are to the school, strengthening the cultural pride of the Hispanic students here at MAST academy” said junior Gabriella Diaz Quiñonez, the President of the PAC Club.
When asked how the show is special to them, other students replied with different viewpoints, often mentioning whether it reminded them of their childhood or made them feel closer to their family roots. Two songs played by the steel band, ‘La Cucaracha’ and ‘Guantanamera,’ helped remind everyone of some special moments from their childhood.
The Hispanic Heritage Showcase is not just a show; it is an event that brings people in the school together, with memories and feelings flooding back into their minds and hearts. The show is about culture, family, history, and even love. It is something extremely special to people, especially those who moved away from home to the United States and are still adjusting to the change and missing their old school, friends, and family. This showcase helps them feel better, more at ease, and closer to home. That is the real meaning and value of the Hispanic Heritage Showcase.