Speyer’s First All-School Assembly of the Year: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Last Friday, October 13, we gathered for our first All-School Assembly of the year in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. This month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements in the U.S. Speyer celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month in myriad ways, from dedicated research and classroom discussions to the books that have been shared to so many more examples. But the highlight was welcoming the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company to our school. 

We have a wrap-up of the event from our Director of Equity and Inclusion Dondré Greenhouse: 

The Calpulli Mexican Dance Company was founded in New York City in 2003 with a mission to celebrate the rich diversity of Mexican and Mexican-American cultural heritage through dance-based programming including live music. The organization produces professional performances via its touring company, designs arts-in-education programming, and provides low-cost, high-quality arts-in-education programming throughout New York City, most notably its program Calpulli Community. The name “Calpulli” was chosen for, in the Nahuatl language, it means “family” and “big house.” The company aspires to be an entity that is celebrated by its community while remaining accessible to a broader, mainstream audience — for both its high-quality artistic works and the integrity of its organization. 

During the exciting assembly, the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company presented a Dia de los Muertos-inspired program featuring songs, dances, and stories. The program featured dance and educational elements, with performers explaining briefly the performance's imagery, culture, rhythms, and Dia de los Muertos to the Speyer community. Selections from the company’s repertoire will include folk, native, and contemporary works developed across the company's 20-year history. The interactive performance got us all on our feet — including some faculty members who learned a step or two! 

Beyond its sheer beauty and cultural richness, this Dia de los Muertos dance performance is a powerful reminder of Speyer's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in its programming. 

Click above to watch some highlights from the assembly and thank you to everyone who helped to make this entertaining and enriching event happen!