Truman’s First-Ever Latino Dance Enlightens, Educates

More than 100 Truman students representing many ethnicities came to the school’s first-ever Latino Dance, benefiting the school’s English Language Learners (ELL) program. Using the theme Banderas Latinas (Latin Flags) to represent the variety of Latino cultures represented in Truman’s ELL, students danced for more than two hours and sampled foods from Mexican, Central American and Caribbean cultures.

This event, however, was more than just a dance. It was a project-based learning exercise using multiple educational disciplines. Math students created the budget, science students helped with lighting and ELL students worked with members of Truman’s leadership class to create publicity materials. “They (ELL students) even practiced their English by inviting students to the dance,” said Lynn Tarvin, Truman’s ELL teacher. “We got the entire school involved by giving students Latino dance lessons for several weeks.”

Proceeds go toward providing resources and guest speakers for the monthly meetings of Latinos Abriendo Caminos, a group of Truman ELL students and parents. Led by Tarvin and district Spanish interpreter Anna Favrow, Latinos Abriendo Caminos helps students from newly-arrived families integrate into the ISD and earn their high school diploma.

To see the promotional video for the Latino Dance, click here.