Upon returning from Cuba, Study Abroad students will enliven Luria Library with their artworks and Salsa dancing.

An art showcase to celebrate the Study Abroad program last July will be hosted from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Luria Library. The art will feature printmaking and photography by Study Abroad students.

“The most exciting thing about the art show is the subject matter, Cuba, and the art that was created through the eyes of American youth working with Cuban artists,” said Kathi Scarminach, the student organizer of the show.

The exhibition is completely managed and sponsored by students. They produced the prints with Cuban artists and used dated equipment and lithograph stones. The photos were taken in Cuba but printed and matted in the United States.

“We want Santa Barbara City College students, faculty and the Santa Barbara community to know that despite the politics surrounding Cuba, the people were very welcoming,” said Scarminach. “The country is beautiful, we felt safe and had an extremely enriching cultural experience and a lot of fun.”

Scarminach said many of the students were beginners in Spanish, printmaking and photography but now, they are “seasoned travelers and artists with a love of the Latin culture.”

“We spent a month in Cuba studying abroad and [would] really like everybody to come and enjoy our photos,” said Global Studies major Alfonso Palencia.

This is the first time Luria Library will host an evening event. It will also trigger a series of Salsa dancing lessons taught by James Enyart, Santa Barbara Hillel dancing instructor, assisted by mathematics instructor Monica Dabos.

While Bowman wanted to host more social events in the library, Dabos wanted to promote Salsa dancing; they combined the ideas in this Cuban art showcase.

“I think we need to create more of these programs where students can have fun, healthy fun,“ Dabos said.

Growing up in Argentina, she has been dancing for 15 years. She earned two bachelor, two master and one doctorate degrees in Math, but nothing stopped her from dancing.

“You can do math and also dance,” she said. “Why not? This may break the stereotype of many mathematicians.”

Seeing that many American college students spend money on alcohol and drugs, Dabos said the dancing lessons generates a healthier way to have fun.

“[Enyart] makes everyone feel at ease with the dance,” Dabos shared. “He gives personal attention to each student and he is a great dancer.”

Dabos will also dance among the “seasoned travelers” this Friday night.