Wheaton Urban District’s Baila4Life ‘Dance for Life’ Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month Will Continue on Saturday, Oct. 8, with Focus on Bachata

For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 6, 2022

The Wheaton Urban District will continue its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with three consecutive Saturday events on Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Downtown Wheaton. The “Dance for Life” events will emphasize “Hispanic Culture through Dance and Music.” The next event, from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, will have the culture focus of Bachata.

The Baila4Life events will feature live music by local artists, dance lessons and performances by local students. At each event, information will be available on important County resources and programs. The Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar Initiative and the Gilchrist Center will be on site with opportunities for community to receive vaccines, health services and resource information during the events.

The series will conclude on Saturday, Oct. 15, with culture focus on Salsa. County Executive Marc Elrich and members of the Montgomery County Council will be special guests and provide remarks on the closing evening of the heritage month.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 by commemorating the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Montgomery’s Hispanic population is the fastest growing group, almost quadrupling in size since 1990, reaching 217,409 people or 20 percent of the County’s population in 2020. Hispanics became the largest group among people of color in 2010.

The series is a collaboration between the Wheaton Urban District and Baila4Life, After School Dance Fund. The After School Dance Fund is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that brings Latin dance lessons and dance clubs to public schools in Montgomery County and throughout the Washington, D.C. area. The program aims to strengthen the social-emotional development of youth by promoting health, exercise, heritage and unity through Latin dance education.

The scheduled ‘Dance for Life’ events:

• Saturday, Oct. 8: Bachata
• Saturday, Oct. 15: Salsa and Awards Ceremony

The format for each event:

• 5 p.m. Music by DJ begins
• 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free dance lessons begin
• 6:30-6:45 p.m. Opening remarks from special guests
• 6:45-7:15 p.m. Community dance competition
• 7:15-8 p.m. Live music and social dancing fiesta

For more information visit WheatonMd.org or Baila4Life.org.

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Release ID: 22-518
Media Contact: Jessy Mejia Terry 240-447-1862
Categories: Holiday