United in Dance hosted the Velas Y Recuerdos Fashion Show last week, bringing together culture and community. The event invited students, faculty and community members to celebrate Día de los Muertos, a holiday that honors loved ones who have passed.
Sayuli Contreras, president and founder of United in Dance, said the event was held to celebrate family members and educate others.
“It’s a way to show that Day of the Dead isn’t just about mourning,” Contreras said. “It’s about celebrating life and honoring loved ones.”
Attendees enjoyed traditional foods like tacos and learned about the history and symbolism behind Día de los Muertos. The room was filled with candles, marigolds and sugar skulls, helping bring the holiday’s traditions to campus.
Contreras said United in Dance, which began as a small dance group on campus, has grown into an organization focused on sharing and celebrating Hispanic culture. The group plans to make the Velas Y Recuerdos Fashion Show an annual tradition since hosting it for the first time last year.
Before the show, United in Dance performed a traditional Mexican dance to “Un Poco Loco” from Disney’s Coco, a film inspired by Día de los Muertos.
“We wanted to show what our group does and bring some of that culture to campus,” said Ana Segura Rochin, junior and vice president of United in Dance.
The show featured students and community members walking the runway in colorful outfits inspired by Día de los Muertos traditions. Each participant was given creative freedom to represent their culture and family traditions while walking the runway.
Rochin also participated as one of the models in the show, which featured both solo and duet performances.
“We let people decide what they wanted to wear for the fashion show,” Rochin said. “We showed up in our culture’s outfits that helped celebrate our traditions.”
Participants showed up wearing traditional dresses, face paint and accessories.
Etsefano Paez, student organization coordinator at UNK, said Día de Los Muertos is a special tradition for many students on campus.
“We always want to make sure traditions like this are represented whenever we have a possibility,” Paez said.
A traditional altar used for celebrating Dia de los Muertos will be set up in the atrium from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3 to help students participate in traditions away from home.
The altars contain pictures of loved ones, marigold flowers, food and other items.
The Velas Y Recuerdos Fashion Show allowed students and community members to learn about and participate in Dia de los Muertos traditions. With performances, colorful outfits and the communal altar, United in Dance provided a space on campus for celebrating and honoring loved ones.
