The dancers were part of a troupe from Des Moines called Nuestra Danza Sin Fronteras — a name which means “Our Dance Without Borders.”

The second annual Iowa Central Afro-Latino Festival was created by ICCC Spanish instructor Andrea Estling.

Students in Estling’s various Spanish classes presented their research projects on Latin American countries and prominent Latinos from throughout history who have been emblazoned on national currency.

Freshman Taylor Smith researched and created a poster on Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a Mexican writer, philosopher, composer, poet and nun from the mid-1600s. De la Cruz was featured on the 200-pesos bill and the 1000-pesos coin issued by Mexico between 1988 and 1992.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Iowa Central freshman Kamrin Steveson, from Grinnell, talks to visitors about his project on Jose Gabriel Tupac Amaru, a leader of a large Andean uprising against the Spanish in Peru in the 18th Century during the Afro-Latino Festival at Iowa Central on Thursday.

“The reason she became a nun was because she was a woman and wanted to have an education, which wasn’t a thing back then,” Smith said.. “So a lot of people call her ‘The first feminist.'”

As a poet, de la Cruz wrote a poem titled “You Foolish Men,” she added.

Smith said she enjoyed learning about how de la Cruz didn’t really care what others thought about her and that she just wanted to learn.

Kamrin Steveson, a freshman from Grinnell, presented a poster featuring Jose Gabriel Tupac Amaru, also known as Tupac Amaru II, an indingenous leader of a large Andean uprising against the Spanish in Peru in the 1780s.

“He was known for leading one of the greatest revolutions in Latin American history,” Steveson said..

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Taylor Smith, an Iowa Central freshman from Fort Dodge, shows off her research project on Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a Mexican writer, philosopher, composer, poet and nun from the 17th Century during ICCC’s Afro-Latino Festival on Thursday.

The festival also offered an array of entertainment for guests to enjoy.

The morning opened with the Chucho Madero Peruvian pan flutes.

Buena Vista University student Matthew Marrowquin recited beat poetry about his experiences growing up Latino in America. Iowa Central sophomore Alfonso Jalvan played guitar between performers.

The Mexican folk dancers wowed the crowd with their colorful skirts. Guests also heard from Son Peruchos, a musical group from Des Moines that performs a fusion of Andean and South American folk music.

Guests enjoyed Cuban sandwiches and cinnamon sugar churros during the festival.

The festival was made possible by sponsorships from the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust and the Catherine Vincent Deardorf Charitable Foundation.