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Latin Dance Night, hosted by the Hampton Library at the Bridgehampton Community House, has been a big hit the last two years. COURTESY HAMPTON LIBRARY
When Lisa Michne became the director of Hampton Library in Bridgehampton in May 2022, one of her first priorities was to connect and engage with different community groups and members of the population in new and exciting ways.
To celebrate and recognize Hispanic Heritage Month in September of that year, she organized a Latin Dance Night, hosted by the library at the Bridgehampton Community House. The inaugural event was underwritten by Dayton, Ritz, Osborne Insurance, and it was a hit. Adults of all ages and from all walks of life gathered together at the community house for an evening of dance and live music, and a celebration of Hispanic culture.
The library will host the event at the community house for the third consecutive year on Friday, September 20, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Last week, Michne explained the inspiration behind creating the event several years ago.
“With Hispanic Heritage Month coming up, I thought what better way to bring people together than music and dancing?” she said.
She was right. More than 100 people came out that first year, and had a great time.
The night will follow the same format this year as it has from the start. Attendees will participate in a half-hour salsa dance class taught by Scott Trevor from Touch Dance Studios — which hosts weekly classes at the community house — and after that will participate in two hours of live music and dancing.
Mambo Loco, the popular local Latin band that played the first two years, has essentially retired as a group, Michne explained, but several members of the band have agreed to come and play at the evening again this year. Dayton, Ritz and Osborne has agreed to cover the cost of tickets for attendees once again this year, and chips and salsa will be donated by Sabrosa.
“People just have the best time, and they’re so, so happy,” Michne said of the event. “We see members of the local Latino population, teachers from the school district, people from the library, people off the street. It has really been wonderful.”
Participants are not required to bring a partner, but can if they want. It’s an adults-only event (18 and older) and alcohol is not permitted.
While the event is free, the library is asking attendees to sign up ahead of time. Tickets are available on the Hampton Library website calendar at myhamptonlibrary.org or through Eventbrite: eventbrite.com/e/978290542347?aff=oddtdtcreator
“Dancing is just something where you go, it’s social, it’s exercise and it’s sort of a break from the world,” Michne said. “You’re not thinking about anything but dancing, having fun, the music, and meeting people. It’s a wonderful, fun, positive evening, and we’re really thankful to Dayton, Ritz and Osborne and everybody at the community house. It’s really just a fun community get-together in September.”
Cailin Riley on Sep 16, 2024