SMU students can enjoy “A Night in Havana” without going to Cuba. The Multicultural Greek Council will host an evening of live music and dancing by a local salsa band on Thursday, Oct. 9.

The Hughes-Trigg Varsity will open the doors at 6 p.m., and the event will start with free salsa lessons. Graduate student Fernando Ortiz will help unfamiliar students by teaching the basic steps of this Latin American rhythm.

Ortiz described salsa dancing as an opportunity to get rid of inhibitions and get in the zone. He also described salsa dancing as a chance for the guy to show off the girl with different dance moves and spins. Ortiz mentioned that perhaps the girl does most of the work, but salsa dancing is equally fun for both partners on the dance floor.

Kee Lee, president of MGC, requests that students avoid shorts and flip-flops and “dress to impress.” This is a chance for students to get dressed up and ready for a lively atmosphere.

At the event, students can enjoy free food from Gloria’s, a local Salvadorian restaurant. The event is open to everybody.

MGC is participating with “A Night in Havana” as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. This is the second event of Hispanic Heritage month.

“We are multicultural and it’s good to contribute,” Lee said.

MGC consists of three sororities: Kappa Delta Chi, Sigma Lambda Gamma, and Sigma Phi Omega, and two fraternities, Omega Delta Phi and Alpha Psi Lambda. MGC promotes culture, community service and academics and serves as a link among the chapters part of MGC. MGC includes members of all ethnic backgrounds including Hispanics, Asians, African-Americans, Caucasians and more.

On Sept. 19, MGC hosted a midnight breakfast at Café Brazil. More than 40 people attended, which included MGC members, parents and friends. This event brought together students of all sororities and fraternities that are part of MGC.

The purpose was to increase interaction and communication among the students. Many students smiled and posed for a quick picture during their meal as one of the students went around taking snapshots.

Next semester, MGC will participate with Asian Heritage month in April by hosting a Karaoke night. This event will also be open to the entire campus.