In collaboration with the Senior School academic office, Trinity College School’s languages and culture department promoted a cultural field trip for all three levels of Spanish classes to Lula Lounge on April 5th. Lula Lounge is located in the heart of Toronto, and it is a well-known Latin venue for its live music, entertainment and food.
The Music and Arts Centre of Lula Lounge hosted a workshop with the dancer, Dailyn Martinez, who graduated with honours from Cuba’s prestigious National School of Dance, specializing in Cuban cabaret, through which our students discovered the rich tradition of Afro-Cuban dance and music. Dailyn and her partner led students in a participatory exploration of Cuban salsa dance and some everyday local expressions.
Focusing on music and traditions, the first part of this immersion trip involved interacting with these two fantastic dancers. Students were introduced to the basic steps of salsa dancing. This experience fostered an understanding of intercultural awareness and engaged students in an essential interactive cultural experience.
The second part of the trip consisted of ordering food in Spanish. At each table, the servers interacted with students in Spanish, encouraging them to practice their listening and speaking skills. Students took this interaction very seriously, and the less shy ones interacted with the Lula staff. It was an excellent opportunity to practice basic Spanish with their classmates and the people at the lounge.
This cultural experience brought enjoyment to students of all ages and grades. Students from Grade 9 to Grade 12 were active participants in this field trip, which has become one day they will never forget.
- By Profesora María Cecilia Velásquez-Labrecque, languages & culture department
