It was a scorching Tuesday evening in the center of the SMU campus, but you would never know the temperature crept over 100 degrees by the way that the Folkorico dancers floated across the stage.

The College Hispanic American Students Organization (CHAS) celebrated the beginning of Latin Heritage Month, which is taking place across the country from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, with several types of dancing, traditional South American and Cuban foods, a Mariachi band and a DJ.

“SMU is doing their part to celebrate Latino heritage within the Latino community of SMU and the city of Dallas,” said Pascual Pellegrino, the CHAS event coordinator.

“What we wanted to do is commemorate every Latin nation from the top of the Caribbean all the way to the southern Pacific Ocean,” he said.

Other students, like SMU junior Rachelle Schelhaas, gathered around the stage to see the many different dances.

“I love the costumes, they are so vibrant,” she said.

The dances included traditional Folkorico, Tejano, Flamenco and even Brazilian Capoeira, a dance that brings together dancing and martial arts.

Children and students joined in dancing around the stage to the music from the DJ booth, while many indulged in the popular Latin-American food choices.