Project MANA - A Hunger Relief Agency

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza: With the popularity of televsion shows like "Grease: You're the One That I Want" and "Dancing with the Stars," it's not surprising that young people in Incline Village are getting excited about dancing.

A local Hispanic man has started his own dance class, sponsored by Project MANA and the Parasol Community Foundation, which allows him to hold the class Friday and Saturday nights at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Non Profit Center.

Sergio Santiago plans to teach the group of 13 or 14 students - from adolescents through adults - a variety of dances from different cultures.

"I love the music and I love to dance," Santiago said. "I want to share the little I know with young people, so it will stay with them and they can pass it to the next generation."

Santiago came to Incline Village four years ago. He learned to dance when he was in middle school in Mexico, where he continued to take dance classes for the next four years.

Now he is working to share his experience with others.

"The first time I went, there were not a lot of people, but little by little there are more people entering" said 17-year-old Arturo Nolasco, a junior at Incline High School. "People can still come and join but you have to take it seriously so the presentation will look good."

The group plans to perform for the community as soon as they have learned a complete dance and are ready, Nolasco said.

"We are practicing for El Jarabe Tapatío (or the Mexican Hat Dance) and others. They are regional Mexican dances," Nolasco said.

Eventually, Sergio hopes for the group to become a multicultural ensemble.

"I want the group to be a mix of different cultures, Americans, Hispanics and others," Santiago said. "When they have a performance, I want them to dance all different cultural dances, not just from Hispanic culture."

Though they don't have an official name yet, the group has been nicknamed Dance Universal Music, which illustrates the multicultural goal of the group.

When the students have finished practicing their first dance, Santiago hopes that they can perform for Project MANA and Parasol to express their thanks for letting them use the facility.

Santiago's whole family is involved in the project, even sewing traditional Mexican skirts for the girls to wear in the El Jarabe Tapatío dance.

"The group is very excited, especially when the girls are talking about the dresses they will wear," Santiago said. "They're not ready yet, but they're already asking when their performance will be."

Incline High School graduate Tania Tinoco, 19, participates in the dance group with her 12-year-old sister Vanessa.

"I'm into dancing hip-hop, and cumbias, so this is something new for me," said Tinoco said. "It is easy for me but sometimes it gets more difficult. There is a lot of stomping and the skirts we are going to wear are very heavy."

But Santiago assures his students that the hard work will pay off in the end. He is willing to go the extra mile to help the dance group live up to his high hopes.

"My dream is for the group to participate in competitions in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and all over to represent Incline Village," Santiago said.

Lucy Redoglia
Bonanza Staff writer