Taking a journey for a cause
The USU Dominican Student Association and audience members joined together Saturday night at the Areito Banquet to celebrate Dominican culture and raise money for a home for elderly people in the Dominican Republic.
The home currently houses about 300 people with a staff of 11 nuns. The home receives the equivalent of about $6,200 per year from the country’s government, which means there is about $20 per resident each year. Sarah Guzman, vice president of the DSA, said the money raised from ticket sales will be used to purchase items such as furniture and wheelchairs, which she said the home lacks.
The annual fundraiser was an opportunity to give back, Guzman said.
“This is the first time that we are donating the money to elderly people,” Guzman said. “This year, we have decided to give to those that have given everything for us.”
The theme of the night was “Boarding Pass,” and audience members were taken on a “journey” to many areas of the country with presentations of dance, song and video. The night opened with a live bachata band featuring USU students. The audience was then treated to dance performances of merengue, urban and baile tipico, a traditional dance. Some audience members also joined the dancers on-stage to learn how to dance from members of the DSA.
For audience members like USU student Alejandra Martinez, the night was an exciting celebration of the culture.
“It shows the diversity that there is,” Martinez said. “I would recommend it for everyone to come. I’m definitely coming next year.”
Guzman said the night was a success.
“I feel very excited,” she said. “This is the seventh Areito that I have participated in, and it was awesome.”
Jorge Veralta, a member of the DSA, said the dancers spent the last few months preparing for the event.
“For the bachata, it was a lot of preparation,” Veralta said. “We spent three months doing the preparation. I told the guys to give everything they’ve got, and they did.”
– bradley.s.robinson12@gmail.com