The crowd made constant murmuring and shuffling noises during the beginning of the show, and I was restless as well. This was my first time seeing a performance by Dale Duro, and I wanted to know what they were about. I was expecting a phenomenal performance, but I was blown away from the moment they launched into a reggaeton dance choreography with the remix of “Como Antes” and “Abusadora.” It was a strong start and completely captivating for other audience members as well.
Dale Duro, Northwestern’s Latin dance team, is open to all backgrounds and skills and hosted their Mensajes de Amor or Messages of Love show at Ryan Auditorium May 2-3. This was their sixth annual spring show and the second year in a row that it has been sold out.
“This was my first Dale show and my jaw was on the ground,” Weinberg second-year Yujin Tatar said. “I was so taken aback. I was amazed. I was blown away.”
Sitting in the crowd, I was surprised to see how electric the energy was and how interactive the performance felt with the audience. Other times I’ve attended a dance group’s show, the performances are energetic, but the crowd’s response tends to only match the group’s hype at the peak of their performance. At Dale Duro, the slightest movement sent the crowd into a frenzy, hollering and cheering for the performers as they gave their all.
“I loved that there was so much community within the dance group,” Tatar said. “I could sense that they had a really tight-knit community, and as part of the audience, I also felt like I was part of this and it was a nice feeling.”
Community was a huge part of the Dale Duro show as the theme of the show, Mensajes de Amor, was certainly present through the different choreographies and music played during this performance. The crowd and dancers fed each other’s energy, constantly hyping one another up. The audience witnessed bachata, merengue, bomba, reggaeton and salsa, and each dance was unique to the type of love the show was trying to convey, either between family, friends or romantic partners. During the middle of the performance, a mensaje de amor was sent to second-year Britney Perez, one of the assistant directors of Dale Duro who passed away in February, by second-year Valentina Parra, an emcee and close friend of Perez. During this homage, everyone in the crowd got to experience Perez’s memory and acknowledge how important she was to the show and the Dale community.
“This show happening after her death occurred and being able to pull it off and perform with so much love and so much passion, it’s definitely not an easy feat,” Parra said. “I hope people can acknowledge how much love the dancers, the performers, everyone organizing this show put into Dale Duro being carried out.”
Sitting in the crowd, I felt how the show meant a lot to everyone involved. It felt like the embodiment of love, and this was reflected in the audience’s reaction. There was a sense of community in the crowd and the performers as well. Yet through this performance, this love crossed boundaries. It passed culture, it passed knowing people. It came to resemble the love we feel for each other.
“I had a lot of people that I became friends with over the course of the show, the partners I had, and everyone was tight-knit and really welcoming to each other.” Weinberg second-year Sofi Castaño said. “It was really cool. Everyone was cheering for each other backstage and helping each other.”
Cultural groups Latin Music Ensemble and Mariachi NU joined Dale Duro for guest performances, but the night I went I saw Latin Music Ensemble play live music while Dale Duro performed Bomba, a traditional Afro-Puertican dance. The dancers swirled with elegance and grace, bringing high energy to the crowd and the musicians. The musicians played live music during this performance, making the dance feel more grounded and lively. Each dancer put their heart and soul into the dance, using their skirts as a canvas for their passion. It was amazing to see the musicians and dancers display the beauty of Bomba through their interaction.
I talked to Parra about what mensaje de amor she wanted the audience to leave with. The message she left me was one of just loving yourself.
“Just by being you, you are already so deserving of the love you don’t allow yourself to receive because we haven’t ‘earned it,’” Parra told me.
That message truly resonated with me, and I felt that throughout the whole performance. The show was not only about Perez’s memory but also cherishing the joy that she brought and sharing that with the audience.
“I’m happy you’re here, and I’m happy that I’m thinking about you. You exist. You’re human, and to be loved is to also be recognized for your flaws. Someone that loves you, even while knowing you mess up, is someone that loves for real, for you.” Parra said. “To have someone love you that deeply is truly a wonderful experience, and deserves to be not just reciprocated, but also just remembered.”
The show really was a huge love letter to everything that Northwestern represents as a community, and it left me wanting to see and maybe even participate in another Dale Duro performance. The time and energy spent were well worth it, and I can’t wait for the seventh annual spring performance.
