On the day that Donald Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States, Bloomington community members will gather at Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington to protest his inauguration through a celebration of Latino culture.
“One World, One Bloomington: An Evening in Celebration of Mexico and the Latin American Diaspora” will start at 6 p.m. Jan. 20 with folk music, classical music, popular music and dancing centered around Latin American tradition.
The event is the brainchild of doctoral student Alejandra Martinez, who said she wanted a way to bring together the Latino community in Bloomington. Studying voice, she said she saw her skill set in music as her springboard for the event.
“It came about because I thought about how this concert would be an expression of identity,” she said. “I thought, ‘in this day and age, and in the culture of the United States right now, unfortunately, an expression of identity is a protest.’”
The idea for the concert also formed partly out of necessity because of Trump’s election, she said.
Martinez said her goal is not only to connect the IU Latino community but also to connect students with the Latino community at large in Bloomington.
More than 20 performances will culminate in a large ensemble playing Cuban dance music. All performers are volunteers who believe in the cause, she said.
The event will also partly focus on stories from people who either are immigrants or have immigrant family members.
“Everyone has a different story of coming to this country,” Martinez said. “I think being aware of that will really help to build unity and appreciation in the community.”
While the list of performers is long and the event will last several hours, Martinez said it will be more of an open house than a traditional concert. Guests do not need to stay in their seats and are encouraged to come and go throughout the event as they are able.
“‘One World, One Bloomington’ is really a chance for people to get to know their neighbors and to celebrate in culture,” she said. “It’s meant also to be an offering to the community at large in Bloomington.”
Guests will be invited to get up and dance, and local dance instructor Gabriel Escobedo and his students will be in the crowd for support.
Martinez said she hopes the dancers will encourage people not to be shy about moving to the music.
“If you’re celebrating the music and you’re moving your body then you are doing it justice,” Martinez said.
Martinez said there are several dialects spoken in Spanish alone, but music is universal. Its ability to connect people is what Martinez said she hopes will happen at “One World, One Bloomington.”
“What we can all agree upon is that this music is beautiful and that it brings us together,” she said.
