CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – San Diego State University Imperial Valley hosted the Transborder Rhythms Festival, a community celebration of Mexican and Chicano music, culture, and pride.
The event featured local performers, including student musicians and dancers, and was organized by SDSU Visiting Professor Hector Peralta. Peralta says the festival was about more than music, it was about connection.
“We can only actually do that in a sustainable way by creating joy and by creating meaningful experiences that restore our spirits and energy,” Peralta said.
He hopes the festival helps keep Mexican and Chicano traditions alive by passing them on to the next generation.
“The theme comes from the way Mexican, Chicano, and Chicana artists have transcended all sorts of boundaries, borders, and rhythms,” Peralta said.
The event left a lasting impression on students like William Lim Nuńez, who says it reminded him of where he comes from. “Just like what we’re about, from the clothing to the dancing to the music.”
He says the energy in the room was contagious. “It got me going, it got me dancing in my seat!”
And he hopes the campus keeps this energy going. “I feel like we need more events like this, for sure.”
The festival highlighted the power of joy, culture, and music to bring people together.