Dance Group Mi Gente Brings Rhythm and Heritage to Soldier Field

Emond Billings and Danetra Thomas. All photos courtesy of Valentina Garcia Fadanelli.Emond Billings and Danetra Thomas. All photos courtesy of Valentina Garcia Fadanelli.
Lorena CastroLorena Castro
Lia Gil Lia Gil
Emily OrtizEmily Ortiz
Jamirelys MaldonadoJamirelys Maldonado
Mi Gente dancers perform at Soldier Field during the Chicago Bears–Philadelphia Eagles game. Mi Gente dancers perform at Soldier Field during the Chicago Bears–Philadelphia Eagles game.
ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ students and alums performed during halftime of the Chicago Bears’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 28.

ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ’s Mi Gente Latin Dance Club and Team took the field at Soldier Field on Monday, September 28, performing before more than 60,000 people during halftime of the Chicago Bears’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

For Danetra Thomas, a Dance student minoring in Acting and ASL, stepping onto the field looked very different from rehearsal, when the stands had been empty.

“All I could think about was those football movies where you see the football players in the tunnel jumping up and down nervously and then they run out to the field,” she says.

With Hispanic Heritage Month in full swing, the performance gave Mi Gente a chance to share its celebration of Latinx/e cultures and traditions with the Soldier Field crowd. The group performed alongside other dance teams during the halftime show.

The opportunity grew out of a connection Mi Gente president Valentina Garcia Fadanelli made in a salsa class. As reported, the junior Dance major met Desueño Dance Company director Denita Inez while exploring another performance project. That project did not move forward, but Inez later reached out with the Soldier Field opportunity. Garcia Fadanelli assembled the team, which rehearsed for more than a month before the game.

Current students were joined by three Columbia alums: Calme Brown ’26, Mi Gente founder Lorena Castro ’25, and Elizabeth Moran ’26. Together, they brought different generations of the group onto the field.

For Thomas, the night also offered a glimpse of the career she is working toward. She hopes to become a commercial dancer and tour with artists around the world. In the middle of the performance, one thought stood out.

“During the performance I remember thinking ‘this is why I’m in school,’” she says.

Having attended many football games at historically Black colleges and universities, Thomas knew how much a halftime performance could mean to an audience. This time, she was one of the dancers on the field.

“Being able to dance at a professional football game for halftime was a big step in my career and I know that God has more in store for me,” she says.

Sharing the experience with Mi Gente also gave Thomas an opportunity to participate in dance traditions beyond her own cultural background. She describes feeling grateful to celebrate Latinx/e heritage alongside her fellow performers.

“It means the world to me to be a part of this experience,” she says.

Mi Gente Dancers
  • Emond Billings
  • Calme Brown ’26
  • Mercedes Cano
  • Lorena Castro ’25
  • Valentina Garcia Fadanelli
  • Lia Gil
  • Jamirelys Maldonado
  • Sammuel Martinez
  • Elizabeth Moran ’26
  • Kameron Murray
  • Liliana Nápoles Carrera
  • Emily Ortiz
  • Areli Ramirez
  • Danetra Thomas
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Columbia

Join ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ for these upcoming events celebrating Hispanic and Latinx/e cultures through dance, art, music, and community.


October 2, 2026, 7:30 p.m.; October 3, 2026, 10:15 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
The Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave.
Admission: Festival passes are $35 general and $25 for elders and industry professionals; individual event tickets range from free to $30; free for ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ students

Presented with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, the festival features contemporary, queer, and experimental work by Latinx/e movement artists engaging with heritage, migration, identity, resilience, and joy. The expanded two-day program includes a concert and post-show discussion on Friday, followed by a workshop and community conversation on Saturday.


October 23, 2026, 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash Ave.
Admission: Free with registration

The second annual celebration of Latine and Hispanic cultures features an art gallery, live performances, a DJ, and food. Columbia students, alums, faculty, and staff may register and bring guests.

Recent News