Mayor John Inyart danced with the Ballet Folklorico Huehyecoyotl Sunday night at the Latin Heritage Celebration Banquet.

“That was very nice,” Inyart said about being pulled from the audience.

Inyart attended the event with his wife and both enjoyed the ballet group.

“We were close enough that we could feel them as well as hear them,” he said. “The entertainment was first class.”

The group, directed by Julian Hernandez, performed several dances at the Grand Ballroom in the Martin Luther King Jr. Union dressed in costumes from Mexico. The colors of the dresses represented every color of the rainbow.

“The costumes are so elaborate and colorful. It adds to the entertainment,” said Tracey Wayne, a senior accounting major.

Wayne said that the ballet performance was new to her but she was glad to be able to see the entertainment.

During the group’s performance, the men danced with swords and the crowd applauded in awe.

“I was thinking ‘I hope they don’t cut themselves,'” Wayne said.

The Ballet Folklorico Huehyecoyotl group, based out of the Elgin Community College in Elgin, Ill., is celebrating its 10 years since being formed by Hernandez.

While in a church youth group, Hernandez and many others, including his now wife Cynthia, performed dances in the area.

Hernandez enjoyed it and decided to form a full-time group.

It helps to teach the dances and the culture of Mexico, he said.

Cynthia is an adjunct faculty for the college and she teaches the dances to children starting at age 5.

“It’s fun to see what they accomplish,” she said. “Usually, they upstage us.”

Although she teaches, Cynthia also likes to perform with the ballet group with her husband. They both enjoyed their time at Eastern.

“It’s fun especially because we are a close knit group,” Cynthia said. “I like to dress up in the costumes.”

The group has performed for weddings and festivals besides colleges.

“We don’t prefer one function to another,” Hernandez said.

The members enjoyed Eastern and it is the farthest South they have been in Illinois.

“I just like to thank the university for inviting us,” Hernandez said adding that they are happy to bring their culture here.

Audience members may have enjoyed the ballet but they also enjoyed the food served by Panther Dining.

The food was good and it tasted authentic, said Bethany Nolte, a 16-year-old junior at the Mattoon High School.

Burritos, chicken and cheese enchiladas, picadillo (Cuban meat hash) and arroz Armarillo were a few of the delicacies served.

Nolte was one of many high school students at the event. Her teacher at the high school told her of the opportunity and Nolte thought it would be interesting to attend.

The dancing and food was a great way to celebrate Latin heritage month, she said.

Maria Fichter-Wandling, a Spanish teacher at the Mattoon High School, said that she brings students to the banquet all the time and has for about 10 years.

“I just want them (students) introduced to Latin culture,” she said.

Fichter-Wandling is glad that Eastern hosts cultural events for the community to attend.

“We need to have more partnerships like that,” she said. “What better place than here.”

About 390 people attended many of which were high school students, Eastern faculty and community members.

Jennifer Sipes, academic advisor for the office of minority affairs, was pleased with the turnout.

“We sold about 390 tickets and I think everyone came,” she said. “I am thrilled an event like this can bring us together.”

After the event, the back of the Grand Ballroom was opened up to attendees to dance to music provided by a DJ, including salsa music.

“Everything is in the hips,” said Jose Deustua, master of ceremonies for the event. “You just have to move the hips.”