Three hundred Saint Louis University students and Latin music lovers from around the city danced the night away at “La Fiesta Tropical” on Saturday night in the Busch Memorial Center’s Saint Louis Room.

The fiesta was hosted by the Latin American and Caribbean Coalition (LACC).

People of many different cultures joined together to dance to the lively Latino-Caribbean beats of the live band and DJ.

Before the event started, the LACC provided two hours of free dance lessons for the attendees in the lower level of BMC.

“The lessons were really great,” said one freshman. “They really helped a lot.”

Helena Carlsson and Oscar Barrantes were the dance instructors at the lessons.

Barrantes has worked at several salsa clubs in Madrid, and Carlsson is an experienced dancer.

“We taught them some basic salsa and merengue steps, as well as how to listen for the rhythms in the music,” said Carlsson.

The students were also taught a special dance that is done in Madrid.

At the lessons, the students stood in a circle and watched the couple dance, while a third instructor described and gave instructions.

“There were at least 50 people at the lessons, if not more,” said Carlsson. “After a little instruction, the students were really good.”

The real partying began at 9 p.m. The DJ started spinning, and the floor was filled with people bouncing to the beat, practicing their new dance steps.

One freshman girl said, “This is really great. I’m having a lot of fun.”

Her dance partner agreed, adding, “I like the mix of cultures here. I’m learning a lot tonight.”

The live band, El Caribe Tropical, started playing around at 10 p.m., getting the crowd into the music.

Their brass instruments and conga drums, combined with the singer’s excellent voice, added spice to the party. One senior commented, “The party is really great; this band is excellent!”

Kavita Rajah, vice president of LACC, said that La Fiesta Tropical has been their focus since last semester.

“We are always having events,” said Rajah. “Last semester, we had the Rhythm of Nations, which celebrated Hispanic history, as well as the Noche Caliente dance party.”

“We started planning La Fiesta Tropical in the fall, but we have really focused on it this semester, bringing all the details together,” Rajah said.

The group also advertised La Fiesta in area newspapers, such as ?Que Pasa?, a Spanish language newspaper.

And was the dance party a success?

“All the feedback I’ve heard from people who attended said that they had a really good time,” Rajah said, “and that was our goal.”