¡Qué belleza! Oaxacans at SMC Show Off Tradition with the Guelaguezta.

_CAMPBELL_TORI_CULT_GUELGUTZEA-6.jpg

La Banda de Musica of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club performs traditional Mexican music at the Guelaguetza 2026 celebration on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate Oaxacan culture. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

Oaxacans at Santa Monica College (SMC) members carrying Pineapples and Toritos (paper-mâché little bull) as they are dancing to a live Banda (band) during the Guelaguetza held at the Main Quad, SMC, Santa Monica, Calif, on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The Guelaguetza is a traditional celebration held in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, in the month of July. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Two mojigangas dancing to live music during the Guelaguetza with Guelaguetza-goers at the Main Quad, SMC, Santa Monica, Calif, on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The Guelaguetza is a traditional celebration held in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, in the month of July. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Oaxacans at Santa Monica College (SMC) members dancing “Las Chilenas” during the Guelaguetza with live Banda (band) at the Main Quad, SMC, Santa Monica, Calif, on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The Guelaguetza is a traditional celebration held in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, in the month of July. Las Chilenas is a dance with colorful bandanas and with footwork implemented into the dance. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Oaxacans at Santa Monica College (SMC) members dancing “Flor de Piña” during the Guelaguetza with live Banda (band) at the Main Quad, SMC, Santa Monica, Calif, on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The Guelaguetza is a traditional celebration held in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, in the month of July. Flor de Piña is a dance with a pineapple on the dancer's shoulder, swaying like the pineapple trees in the wind. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Oaxacans at Santa Monica College (SMC) members carrying a Torito (paper-mâché little bull) as they are dancing to a live Banda (band) during the Guelaguetza held at the Main Quad, SMC, Santa Monica, Calif, on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The Guelaguetza is a traditional celebration held in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, in the month of July. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Oaxacans at Santa Monica College (SMC) members carrying pineapples as they are dancing to a live Banda (band) during the Guelaguetza held at the Main Quad, SMC, Santa Monica, Calif, on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The Guelaguetza is a traditional celebration held in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, in the month of July. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Oaxacans at Santa Monica College (SMC) members dancing “Las Chilenas” during the Guelaguetza with live Banda (band) at the Main Quad, SMC, Santa Monica, Calif, on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The Guelaguetza is a traditional celebration held in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, in the month of July. Las Chilenas is a dance with colorful bandanas and with footwork implemented into the dance. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Adelante Club sets up a table at the Oaxacans's at SMC Guelaguetza 2026 on Thursday, May 28 2026 at the SMC main quad at 1900 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica, CA. The Adelante Club advocates self-awareness within the SMC latino and latina community by promoting student relations through social, cultural, and academic resources. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Adelante Club sets up a table at the Oaxacans's at SMC Guelaguetza 2026 on Thursday, May 28 2026 at the SMC main quad at 1900 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica, CA. The Adelante Club advocates self-awareness within the SMC latino and latina community by promoting student relations through social, cultural, and academic resources. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsair)

A reveler dances with a mojiganga and enjoys the festivities at the Oaxacans's at SMC (Santa Monica College) Guelaguetza 2026 on Thursday, May 28 2026 at the Santa Monica College main quad at 1900 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica, CA. (Maria Lebedev | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) students Daisy Zacarias (Right) and Isabella Opfer (Left) of the Oaxaca’s of SMC club dance at the Guelaguetza celebration on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. Zacarias is Vice President of the club and helped set up for the event as well as pass out food and present the dancers. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club presents Guelaguetza 2026 on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate the dip cultural importance of Oaxacan culture. Each costume and dance has an indigenous historical and cultural meaning. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club dance a traditional Oaxacan dance called the Danza de la Pluma at the Guelaguetza celebration on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The dance is a traditional Oaxacan dance featuring vibrant headdresses and a fusion of Indigenous Aztec, Zapotec, and Spanish choreography. The headdresses are made of hundreds of dyed feathers decorated with mirrors and religious imagery. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club presents Guelaguetza 2026 on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate the dip cultural importance of Oaxacan culture. Each costume and dance has an indigenous historical and cultural meaning. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

Dalila Martinez from The University High School Oaxacan Club performs at the Guelaguetza 2026 on the Santa Monica College (SMC) main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate Oaxacan culture. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club presents Guelaguetza 2026 on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate the dip cultural importance of Oaxacan culture. Each costume and dance has an indigenous historical and cultural meaning. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

Students from the Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club dance with a bull and red scarf at the Guelaguetza 2026 celebration on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate the dip cultural importance of Oaxacan culture. Each costume and dance has an indigenous historical and cultural meaning. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club presents Guelaguetza 2026 on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate the dip cultural importance of Oaxacan culture. Each costume and dance has an indigenous historical and cultural meaning. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club dance a traditional Oaxacan dance called the Danza de la Pluma at the Guelaguetza celebration on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The dance is a traditional Oaxacan dance featuring vibrant headdresses and a fusion of Indigenous Aztec, Zapotec, and Spanish choreography. The headdresses are made of hundreds of dyed feathers decorated with mirrors and religious imagery. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club dance a traditional Oaxacan dance called the Danza de la Pluma at the Guelaguetza celebration on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The dance is a traditional Oaxacan dance featuring vibrant headdresses and a fusion of Indigenous Aztec, Zapotec, and Spanish choreography. The headdresses are made of hundreds of dyed feathers decorated with mirrors and religious imagery. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club presents Guelaguetza 2026 on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate the dip cultural importance of Oaxacan culture. Each costume and dance has an indigenous historical and cultural meaning. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club presents Guelaguetza 2026 on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate the dip cultural importance of Oaxacan culture. Each costume and dance has an indigenous historical and cultural meaning. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club dance a traditional Oaxacan dance called the Flor de Piña at the Guelaguetza celebration on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The dance is a popular, vibrant folk dance from the Papaloapan region of Oaxaca, Mexico. The women dance barefoot with a pineapple to honor the region’s rich agricultural roots. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club presents Guelaguetza 2026 on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate the dip cultural importance of Oaxacan culture. Each costume and dance has an indigenous historical and cultural meaning. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The University High School Oaxacan Club performs at the Guelaguetza 2026 celebration on the Santa Monica College (SMC) main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate Oaxacan culture. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The University High School Oaxacan Club performs at the Guelaguetza 2026 celebration on the Santa Monica College (SMC) main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate Oaxacan culture. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

Dalila Martinez, President of The Oaxacans of Santa Monica College (SMC) Club presents Guelaguetza 2026 on the SMC main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, May 28th, 2026. The celebration is a traditional Oaxacan event thrown in July featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and native food to celebrate Oaxacan culture. (Tori Campbell | The Corsair)

The Oaxacans at SMC club hosted a Guelaguetza on the main quad at Santa Monica College, showcasing colorful traditions from Oaxaca on May 28. It started with a parade filled with live music from a band and dancers from the club. Club members performed dances from “Flor de Piña” and “Danza de la Pluma” for students and other attendees. After the dances, the band played music for everyone to dance to, along with paper giants called “mojigangas” and paper props in the shapes of bulls and turkeys. 

Guelaguetza goers were also treated with foods from Oaxaca, including flautas and ice cream, or helados, and a community resource fair was held alongside the music and stage performances.