Latin Grammy Award-winning band Pacific Mambo Orchestra performed at Salsa Loca Live on April 16 with a crowd of about 850 people.

“They won a Grammy Award last year and this is their second year in a row performing for Salsa Loca Live,” said sophomore criminal justice major Angeles Lopez.

Guests were invited to come celebrate a night of dancing and fun through a series of performances, dance lessons and DJ sets.

Dancing skill ranged from beginner to advanced, but all were welcome to enjoy the dance floor.

“It felt like hot Latino blood was pumping through my veins while the music was flowing through me,” said senior environmental studies major Ian Bobbitt.

Salsa lessons were taught by three-time World Salsa Champion and America’s Got Talent contestant Andrew Cervantes, and Yemaya Dance Company Director Emelie Andagan. After teaching guests how to salsa dance, PMO started playing their first set of lively Latin tunes.

“Pacific Mambo Orchestra emphasized playing salsa music tonight, but towards the end of the night, the DJ will mix it up,” said sophomore child development major Elizabeth Sanchez. “They will play Merengue, Bachata and Cumbia too.”

The San Francisco-based orchestra has 20 band members playing instruments from different families including percussion, woodwinds, brass, strings and vocals. They perform in English and Spanish.

One of its band leaders, Steffen Kuehn, who plays the trumpet, celebrated his 50th birthday at the event.

Not only did Sacramento State students attend, but many members of the Sacramento dance community came out as well.

The Yemaya Dance Company, Bachata Conmigo and Ritmo Salvaje were some of the other dance groups in attendance.

“Dancing to me means a way to forget about school and stress,” said senior mechanical engineering major Misael Saucedo. “It also means to make new friends and have fun.”

Saucedo and his dance partner, sophomore biology student Erica Hernandez, performed for the first time in front of thousands of people during last year’s Latin Dance Fest and Showcase in Reno as part of Ritmo Salvaje.

“Dancing salsa means I get to break out of my comfort zone… Before joining Salsa Loca last year, I didn’t even like dancing,” said Hernandez. “Now, I’m performing at showcases like the one from Reno last year where we got to learn a lot of new complex dance moves.”