Latin Expressions 2003 is appropriately entitled "Locura Latina."

Meaning "madness" or "insanity," Latin Expressions has become an event on campus that can be relied on each year to showcase cultural entertainment at its best. It promises to be no different this year, with an impressive array of talented artists performing dance, singing and poetry acts lined up.

The performance premiered in 1990, with the purpose of raising funds for a scholarship to be presented to a local Latino high school senior who wanted to attend Notre Dame. Now an annual event over a decade old, the participation and attendance level has increased dramatically, making it necessary to move it out of its former small-scale venue of the Hesburgh Library Auditorium. The spirit of the production has changed as well, from a politically charged and angst dominated performance to a celebration of being Latino at Notre Dame.

Locura Latina begins with six couples that dance in both the opening act and the closing act. For the organizers, this is one of the most difficult portions of the event to put together, because there are so many talented dancers to choose from. These dancers audition at the same time as the rest of the acts, and are then paired up to open and end the show.

There were close to 50 people trying out for only ten openings. With such gifted competition vying for these two performance slots that linger in the minds of the audience, the beginning and ending to Locura Latina should be memorable and exciting. Miguel Luna, a sophomore from Siegfried, and Cecilia Lesmes, a senior from Lewis, are the commissioners in charge choreographing the opening acts and dance in them as well.

Luna feels that there are multiple objectives and themes in the production as a whole.

"It's about understanding the culture a little more, the different types of music and the way things go socially. People can also see that there is diversity at Notre Dame and that anyone can be in [Latin Expressions] because we're open to everybody. There's no discrimination," Luna said.

"In high school I danced and was in Latino club. We had International Night where the different clubs put on performances, and last year I danced in the opening and closing act. I was approached this year to be a commissioner and I wanted something different and to make it enjoyable for everybody," Luna said.

The next act to take the stage is the Irish Dance Group. Co-executive director April Garcia, a sophomore from Lyons, feels that the decision to include the Irish dancers was important not only because of their ability but also because it highlights the diversity of the student body and students who have more than one ethnic background. The Irish dancers were adamant about being as Latino as possible, dancing to Latin music, since the organizers feel that as long as the acts express Latino culture they complement the production as a whole. An interesting aspect of Celtic dancing is that it does have roots with flamenco dancing, making it even more suited for the production.

Mariachi ND, a student-run organization on campus, will be performing twice in Locura Latina. Also performing will be individual dance and singing acts that composed their own acts, and a poetry performance. The poetry reading is focused on the theme of being the Latino woman. Rounding out the first half is Ballet Folklorico. Although the group's instructor is from outside the University, the organization is basically run by students. One of their dances will be from the state of Jalisco in Mexico, "La Negra." Their other dance is to a type of music called norteņo, and is usually done in couples.

One of the individual dance acts is an extremely creative dance by three girls, entitled "Malaghena." This is a Brazilian influenced dance, with much "Shakira-style" hip movement. Garcia feels this performance exhibits a central objective of Latin Expressions, which is to present the many faces of Latino culture. A student who knows about being Mexican-American might not know about other parts of Latin background, and can come to the performance to experience new kinds of Latino heritage, as well as students who know nothing about Latino culture.

Troop ND, a hip-hop influenced dance group that makes up their own routines and learns their dances from each other, is another exciting addition.

"They're able to be in so many productions because they're able to mold themselves to whatever the production needs," Garcia said. "If we say we have a Latin show, they'll dance to Latin music and incorporate Latin dance moves."

Another act that brings variety to the show is Coro Primavera, which is the Spanish choir that generally sings at Spanish Mass. Their participation in the show will include songs that are more contemporary than the ones they would sing in church, since this is an opportunity to expand their repertoire.

There will also be the presentation of the Julian Samora award, which is given to a faculty member that has influenced and helped Latino students at Notre Dame. The recipient of the award is someone who has also contributed to the Latino community in South Bend and at Notre Dame.

A tradition for Latin Expressions is for it to coincide with Spring Visitation Weekend, which is the weekend when the University hosts minority high school students to let them experience a slice of Notre Dame life. There have been objections to lining up cultural events while prospective Notre Dame students, who are deciding whether to attend the University or not, are visiting because it creates a false impression of campus life.

"There are a lot of complaints that Spring Vis is one big, fat lie, and that Notre Dame is exceptionally diverse, especially for students that come from a much more diverse background. But that's not the point of Spring Vis. It's not to make Notre Dame look like a very diverse place, it's not meant to lie to the student and say that this happens all the time. It's meant to get students who are unable to visit the University to come and figure out whether it is the right place for them. These productions are meant to say, `Look what we can do.' The show is very broad. You can come here and get more cultured than you were before. As the years go by and as the administration strives for more diversity, it also helps the show broaden its appeal," Garcia said.

The organizers emphasize the point of expressing a wide spectrum of forms of Latino culture, so that the Notre Dame community can learn more no matter what, even if they have extensive knowledge about one kind of culture.

"For instance, I didn't learn salsa and merengue until I came here, and they're staples of someone else's culture. Or different kinds of food. This weekend is our one big event, and it's meant to bring the entire Latin community together and show the kids at Spring Vis that these are the kinds of events that we can have, and this is where you can express yourself. While bringing in all the Spring Vis kids, you're doing the same thing for the students are Notre Dame, who know a little bit, or nothing, or even more than you do," Garcia said.

While this is a celebration of Latin culture, all students and members of the community are welcomed and encouraged to attend to learn about the culture. Oftentimes, people have a very narrow view of the Latino culture, which is why the production is set up to expose audience members to a much broader view. The production is an easy outlet not only for participants to show off their skills and knowledge, but also for others to learn and experience new backgrounds.

This year's sponsors are La Alianza, Institute for Latino Studies, Multicultural Student Programs & Services and Saint Mary's Student Diversity Board. There are also other contributors, which is why the organizers feel this is such an important opportunity for more of the Notre Dame and South Bend community to see the culture and talent of students and find more ideas of ways to contribute to diversity and the University.

Audience members can expect to be educated and also highly entertained as they watch fellow students showing off their talents. A word of advice from both co-executive directors, Garcia and Michelle Hogan, is to "watch out for the emcees."

It's going to be madness.

Locura Latina, Latin Expressions 2003, is Friday, March 28th at 7:30 p.m. in the Century Center. Tickets are available at the LaFortune Box Office, $5. For complimentary shuttles, inquire within.

• Locura Latina: More madness for march