Tanya Guzman had a simple task.

She didn’t want to make a fool of herself.

As her classmates laughed, twirled their partners and sang along to the music, Guzman had just one goal: blend in.

“I just want to look like I know what I’m doing,” she said.

For the past three Thursdays, the Latin American Student Organization has hosted Salsa and Merengue dance lessons, which allows community members to participate in various Latin dance styles.

Last night marked the final session, which began with basic warm-up exercises that led to the group partnering up for a more realistic dance experience.

Each of the three dance sessions lasted for two hours, which was plenty of time for the group to learn and execute the Latin moves.

The event, which was open to the public, attracted Eastern students, faculty members and the Beecher High Spanish Club students.

Guzman, LASO co-adviser, believed the dance lessons were good practice for the group’s Latin Heritage Celebration Banquet this Sunday.

“They teach the basics, but also show you how to flare it up and add a bit of extra,” said Guzman. “It was a lot of fun and great practice.”

The instructors incorporated the dance movements in a way that beginner dancers easily caught on.

Champaign resident, Fede Rico, area DJ and co-organizer of the I-Salsa-2 Student Organization at the University of Illinois, led the Salsa and Merengue dance lessons.

Rico, who was introduced to Salsa dancing by a friend after he took interest in playing Salsa music, has been instructing the dance techniques since 2001.

“I thought the music was very rich in rhythm and it intrigued me to learn more about it,” said Rico. “At some point I started to learn the moves to appreciate it.”

Rico’s goal for instructing the Salsa and Merengue classes was to educate people about the Latin dance style.

“It’s a great way to connect with people and is almost like a language without the words,” said Rico.

The lesson was broken up into two parts – Salsa and Merengue. The latter, a more complicated genre, is taught after the Salsa session, and encompasses a wider variety of moves.

“Merengue is definitely the more difficult style to learn. There are a lot more moves,” said Rico.

Beecher High School Spanish teacher, David Smith, found out about the event last week and decided to bring it up in his classroom.

“I told them this dancing is part of the Spanish culture. They’ll have a test on it in 20 hours,” said Smith. “They seem to be having a ball.”

An energetic group of Eastern students was present at the lesson, shaking and gyrating to Latin music.

Sophomore communications major Megan Mathy came to dance for a number of reasons.

“I look forward to dancing and have always wanted to learn Salsa,” said Mathy. “It’s been fun and the instructor is great.”

Meredith Mammarella, junior business marketing major, spins Kyle Lennon, a senior physical education major, during the Latin American Student Organization’s Salsa and Merengue Dance Lesson in the aerobics room of the Student Recreation Center Thursday eve

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