Students from a variety of campus organizations danced, sang and improvised Wednesday night at the Hispanic Heritage Month Talent Show.
The event took place at 7 p.m. at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom, and it was held to highlight student talent, said Raymond Dueñas, director of Hispanic Heritage Month.
More than 500 people attended the show this year, surpassing last year's attendance by about 150 people.
UF's Hispanic Heritage Association funded the festivities on a $3,000 budget, Dueñas said.
There were 13 acts in the show, and each performer had eight minutes to perform in one of three categories: freestyle, vocal or dance performance.
Moments before the show began, UF J-Club Dance Team, a Yosakoi Bushi dance group, sat waiting by the side of the stage as other performers did sound checks.
The dancers prepared to perform a traditional Japanese dance routine to the song "Rising" by the Yoshida Brothers.
Telecommunication sophomore Samantha Green, a performer in the group, said she was nervous.
"I learned the dance on Monday," Green said. "I'm nervous, but I didn't want to be the only one left [behind]."
Students began to fill the room at about 7:15 p.m., and some stopped to have their pictures taken in a life-size cut out of a flashy Hollywood couple. The Reggaeton song "Loco" by Jordan y Randy, who is also preforming at the HHM concert next week, filled the speakers.
The Sabor Latino dance team took home the award for best group in the dance category. The group danced to Lady Gaga music, the women dressed in colorful tutus and yellow-and-black striped stockings and the men clad in black pants and white button-down T-shirts.
Criminology and psychology junior Janioris Diaz Rodriguez came out on top in the vocal category, and the UF Fitness Demo Group, with the Department of Recreational Sports, won in the freestyle category.
Andi Rendon, a family, youth and community sciences senior, took home the fan favorite award, which was given for the first time this year. Each performer had a donation container set up, and audience members could choose their favorite performer by putting money into that performer's container. The total amount raised, $52.73, will be donated to Padres Contra El Cancer, a Latino organization that seeks to educate the public about childhood cancer, other blood disorders and their respective treatment methods.
Mistress and master of ceremonies Jennise Acosta and Alex Castro introduce the acts for the Hispanic Heritage Month Talent Show in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom Wednesday night.
