Photo of cumbia event flyer. @MEXSA_MU / INSTAGRAM
Emmanouel Sofillas, Managing Editor
At a recent campus cumbia lesson hosted by Manhattan University’s Mexican Student Association (MEXSA), students said the dance’s smooth and communal vibe were part of what made the event inviting from the start.
The Quadrangle sat down with the organizers of the event, who said that they decided on cumbia as the dance style for the evening as it is inherently approachable, even for first-timers.
“Cumbia feels approachable because of its rhythm and atmosphere,” Miguel Ruiz, a freshman finance major and the secretary of MEXSA, said. “People naturally fall into the groove together.”
Melvin Estudillo, a graduate student and the graduate assistant for the club, echoed that the accessibility of the cumbia was important to the event, noting that its structure helps beginners build confidence.
“The steps are fairly trivial and can be learned within a day,” Estudillo said. “This makes it possible for anyone to feel confident.”
The social nature of dance played a major role in the club’s goals for the event. Members emphasized that movement and music create opportunities for students to meet outside of academic spaces.
“Through hosting bailes and cumbia nights, MEXSA has been able to meet students from different backgrounds and actually spend time getting to know each other,” Ruiz said.
Estudillo added that events like these help to form new relationships that might not happen otherwise.
“I personally met new people thanks to our most recent event,” Ruiz said. “It was nice to see so many people coming together with music.”
Those on the E-Board that The Quadrangle spoke with emphasizes how music can set the tone just as much as the dance itself. The group aimed to create an upbeat, welcoming environment shaped by cumbia’s lively sound.
“The music is very much lively and energetic and that is the environment we wish to create during the lesson,” Estudillo said.
Ruiz noted that music helps capture students’ attention and draw them into the experience.
“Its upbeat, unfamiliar rhythm catches people’s attention and naturally pulls them into the atmosphere we want to create,” Ruiz said.
Cultural understanding of the cumbia, its history and what it represents was also a central focus of the night. Organizers said they hoped the event would give students a hands-on connection to Mexican traditions.
“Dancing cumbia lets people feel the music and the atmosphere for themselves, not just hear about it,” Ruiz said.
Estudillo noted the club’s desire to show how open and inclusive Mexican culture can be.
“I hope it shows how anyone from any background can learn Mexican culture and that Mexican culture is very much welcoming,” Estudillo said.
In cumbia, students often react most strongly to the dance’s momentum and partner work. Ruiz pointed to spin moves as a highlight for many newcomers.
“When the timing clicks and the turn flows, it feels rewarding and energizing,” Ruiz said.
Eduardo Perez, a club member in attendance at the event, also pointed to the spins as both essential to the style of dance and a highlight to those learning it. Perez also commented on how the connection between partners performing cumbia is part of the magic.
“That relationship between dance partners, being in sync together… everything just feels right,” Perez said.
The club hopes that attendees leave the event behind still thinking about the experience—and with a desire to return for future events.
“I hope they share with their friends how much fun it was to learn something new,” Estudillo said.
Perez concurred.
“I hope they talk about how they can’t wait for the next time we host an event like that,” Perez said.
The event also served a broader purpose for the organization’s presence on campus.
“Events like this help strengthen MEXSA’s presence,” Ruiz said. “By letting students see us in action—showing up, creating community, and giving people a space to connect.”
Estudillo added that as a relatively new group on campus, every event helps raise visibility.
“I see it as a method of getting our name out there… our presence on campus is seen so much more than it was before,” Estudillo said.
For many organizers, the event carried personal meaning as well. Sharing cumbia became a way to celebrate their heritage and the traditions they grew up with.
“Teaching it and seeing other students enjoy it makes me appreciate the culture behind it even more,” Ruiz said.
Perez described how his own family’s dance traditions shaped him.
“I am the third generation of Mexican professional dancers and I hope to one day be even a little close to the prestige my ancestors were,” Perez said.
The group also hopes that students walked away with an understanding of the diversity within cumbia itself.
“Even within Mexican culture there are many ways to dance cumbia… they can all be combined into a beautiful dance with the same roots,” Estudillo said.
Another member highlighted regional differences.
“In places like Mexico City, you’ll see cumbia sonidera with its own style and personality,” Ruiz said.
As the night wrapped up, organizers said their biggest wish was for students to leave feeling welcomed and connected.
“We hope students come in with an open mind, willing to try something new and connect with the people around them,” Ruiz said.