Speech junior Diana Gutierrez tried to recreate the image of a traditional Venezuelan town with her Latino student group Mezcla during a song, dance and poetry performance Tuesday night.

Upon entering the ground floor of Norris University Center, the effervescent glow of candles burning in deep green glass cups engulfed the audience of about 40 students in the romantic mood of Hispanic culture.

Mezcla, which means “mixture” in Spanish, performed acts that displayed the large variety of arts and cultures within the Latino umbrella.

Speech junior Tatiana Cabral-Schnurr ended the program with a sensuous belly dance that spurred lively audience response and applause.

Cabral-Schnurr said she hoped performances like the Tuesday night event would ingratiate her group with Northwestern’s student body.

“We hope to become more solidly established in the community,” she said.

Gutierrez said the group, which was formed Spring Quarter 2000, offers a forum for Latino students to connect with their cultural heritage.

“There’s no other vehicle for Latino students to express themselves,” she said. “We want to make a legacy that encourages creativity not otherwise represented.”

Gutierrez sang a Hispanic song, “Contigo en la Distancia,” which she dedicated to her grandmother.

Education junior Lucila Pulido used props to suggest a stereotypical Latino housewife while reciting a poem that reflected on the pain of a misunderstood woman. The poem, “Elena,” by Pat Mora, describes a woman sneaking into a bathroom to practice her English.

The talent show, which featured 11 performances in all, was part of Hispanic Heritage Month, a series of festivities taking place from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 honoring Hispanic culture.