Under dim lights, students formed a circle, ready to dance “el baile de la iguana,” a Mexican folk dance that mimics the crawling and jumping movements of an iguana. Those who didn’t want to dance continued playing the bean bag toss, taking photos or munching on tortilla chips dipped in salsa verde.
The DePaul Latine student organization Movimiento Estudiantil de Solidaridad y Apoyo, more commonly known as MESA, hosted their fourth annual end-of-the-year “Bye-le” event in DePaul’s Lincoln Park Student Center on Friday, May 22.
“Bye-le” is a play on the Spanish word “baile,” which means dance. The event attracted over 80 attendees, according to DeHub and organization leaders.
This year’s Bye-le theme was “Bye-le del Barrio,” or neighborhood dance. The theme was intended to promote unity among all Latin Americans. Students were encouraged to wear jerseys or other attire representing their cultures, said MESA co-president, Samantha Ortiz.
“Barrio is a term that’s used all over Latin America,” Ortiz said. “It’s just that specialness of a space for community to come together, whether it is the hood, whether it is the town, or whatever they want to call it. We all have one of those in our country in Latin America.”
The event, meant to have a cozy and familiar atmosphere like that of a neighborhood block party, had different games, a photo op, food and a two-hour performance by a Chicago-based musical group called Los Socios, who plays mostly regional Mexican music. Flickering, battery-operated candles and flowers tucked into reused metal cans decorated each table.
When picking the theme, MESA thought of what would best serve community needs. Ortiz said fears instilled by the Trump administration had a dampening and dividing effect on Latine people living in the United States, especially in the last year.
“Our flags are not the same, our colors are not the same, the way we may think about ‘el barrio’ is not the same. But at the end of the day, what (each culture) has is that community aspect,” Ortiz said. “They all have that pride to represent our culture, our country, and that’s what we want to hold on to.”
Omari Brooks, a DePaul junior, created art pieces for this year’s Bye-le. One depicted a woman in a colorful, flowy dress dancing against Chicago’s skyline. Brooks’ roots in Chicago and love for learning about different cultures fuels the inspiration for many of his pieces, he said.
“Overall, I just want people to feel community, feel love, passion, and most importantly, culture,” Brooks said.
Brooks frequents DePaul’s cultural centers, where MESA holds most of their events. He considers it a welcoming environment with engaging weekly activities, like the Latinx Cultural Center’s weekly Spanish Hour where students play games to practice Spanish. Ortiz hopes MESA continues to be a space for students to learn and uplift each other.
“We try to be that second home that people may not have,” she said.
Ilanna Sosa, a DePaul sophomore, enjoys going to MESA events in her free time. She appreciates the diverse backgrounds of the organization’s members. She said that she came to Bye-le to meet new people, but was most excited for the dancing.
“When you feel the music, you just go with the flow, and that’s why I love it,” Sosa said.
Sosa encourages students looking to get more involved on campus to give student organizations, like MESA, a chance.
“Don’t be afraid because people over here are very friendly. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it,” Sosa said. “This is your college years. You’re here to not only study and make sure you graduate, but also to make memories and friends. And how you do that is by going to the student organizations, going to the events and connecting with people.”
