Students will show off their newly learned salsa moves at the Latin Jazz Dance party 8 p.m. today at the Music Building’s Boutell Memorial Concert Hall.

The Latin Jazz Dance party will feature the Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble and the DeKalb Latin Jazz Collective.

After the Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble kicks off the show, Tumbao, NIU’s Latin dance team, will give a salsa lesson to the audience. The crowd can show off their moves to the tunes of the Latin Jazz Collective during a finale dance party.

The groups feature students of percussion professor Michael Mixtacki. Mixtacki, Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble founder, said he credits percussion professor Greg Beyer for the event.

Beyer “set me up with a lot of stuff before I got here,” Mixtacki said. “He’s been here for 10-11 years, and this is only my third year teaching. And, when I got here, he helped me.”

Alex Rolfe, graduate percussion performance student, said the Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble learns the music of countries, including Cuba and Brazil, and is taught a blend of musical instruction, culture and history.

The event “is a very good opportunity to showcase what we’ve done in class, and it’s fantastic to partner with the Center for Latino Studies,” Rolfe said.

Nicole Chopp, sophomore percussion performance and music education major, said she’s excited to perform with the Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble.

“This is my first time performing with them,” Chopp said. “I’m also excited to sing … . Mike [Mixtacki] is awesome to work with. He’s really enthusiastic and passionate.”

The event will have free food.