O eMe Te to host Brown Style dance

Event is free, occurs 10 p.m. Saturday at Ensminger Pavilion

%E2%80%9CThis+dance+is+huge+and+successful+because+students+and+alumni+from+all+backgrounds+come+%5Band%5D+people+from+different+universities+come+as+well%2C%E2%80%9D+Salomon+Martinez%2C+Brown+Style+public+relations+chair%2C+said.

COURTESY OF SALOMON MARTINEZ

“This dance is huge and successful because students and alumni from all backgrounds come [and] people from different universities come as well,” Salomon Martinez, Brown Style public relations chair, said.

NAPHTALI CALLES, Evergreen reporter

La Hermandad De O eMe Te is hosting its annual Brown Style dance at 10 p.m. Saturday at Ensminger Pavilion.

“Brown Style is a dance for the public, and it is completely free,” Michael Jaramillo, Brown Style committee chair and La Hermandad vice president, said. “It is not only for WSU students, it’s for anyone and everyone.”

Leo Covarrubias, president of La Hermandad De O eMe Te, said the event received funding from ASWSU, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA), the Residence Hall Association and the CougParents Program.

“We really strived to make this free to the public, so cost wouldn’t be an impediment for those who would like to attend,” Covarrubias said.

Salomon Martinez, Brown Style public relations chair, said the O eMe Te founder and Omega Phi Omega fraternity partnered to create Brown Style, which is now one of the most anticipated events at WSU.

“This dance is called ‘Brown Style’ because brown comes from the common colors that Omega Phi Omega and La Hermandad De O eMe Te shared,” Martinez said.

Covarrubias said Brown Style is hosting its honorary guest, the Crimson Group.

“They have done tremendous work to help support and advocate for undocumented students,” he said. “We have guests each year so we can highlight them to the community.”

This year, Martinez said, they expect 300 to 400 attendees.

“This dance is huge and successful because students and alumni from all backgrounds come [and] people from different universities come as well,” Martinez said.

He said the night will be filled with lively music from DJ JCP for attendees to enjoy.

“Many have the misconception that when they hear Brown Style, only Latin or Mexican music will be played,” Martinez said. “In reality, the DJs we bring play a huge range of genres, so it varies [and] there will be a little bit of everything.”

Jaramillo said a lot of people ask about Brown Style at the beginning of the school year.

“The whole purpose of the dance is to bring communities together,” Covarrubias said. “The origin of the dance began with two cultures coming together — Brown Style is a blending of cultures, and that’s what we promote it as.”