orn of Irish descent and a non-Spanish speaker, telecommunications senior Patrick Gibson may appear out of place on the Hispanic Student Association dance team. Yet he was among 10 HSA dancers to perform at last year’s Gator Growl.
Latin
culture heats up UF
Written by Jeremy Cox
Photo Illustration by Carlton Ward Jr.
orn of Irish descent and a non-Spanish speaker, telecommunications senior Patrick Gibson may appear out of place on the Hispanic Student Association dance team. Yet he was among 10 HSA dancers to perform at last year’s Gator Growl.
“I really kind of stand out,” he admits.
Before the sold-out crowd, he danced the way he was taught—by standing at the bar of a Gainesville nightclub during its Latin night promotions, soaking in the moves and steps behind such dances as salsa, merengue and bachata.
Gibson says his parents already taught him “old school” Latin dances such as the cha-cha and rumba, so he learned quickly. Though he couldn’t understand the lyrics to many of the songs, he was infatuated with the music. After mastering the new moves, he auditioned for the dance team on a friend’s urging and made the squad.
Gibson is among many non-Hispanic students who sample the many flavors of Latin culture. The voice of this growing culture is being heard across America and at UF, and it has a Spanish accent.
Hispanics have surpassed African Americans as the largest minority group in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The Hispanic population tops 33 million nationwide, representing 12 percent of Americans, and the group is making gains in all walks of life.
It’s only a matter of turning on the radio to find signs of the Latin explosion. Hispanic pop stars have been dominating the music scene ever since Ricky Martin wowed American audiences at the 1999 Grammy Awards. His performance led the swivel-hipped singer to stardom, and ignited the career of Latin artist Marc Anthony, while Jennifer Lopez and Carlos Santana also enjoyed a popularity boost.
