A performance of a well-known Ranchera, “Tú, Solo Tú,” by Mariachi Veritas, a student band, led the audience to break out into song.

Audience members also danced along with Sumaj Chasquis, a Bolivian band who performed both pre- and post-Spanish conquest era tunes.

Harvard students were the primary participants in the show, but members of the greater Cambridge and Boston community participated as well. Outside involvement included a performance of Capoeria, an Afro-Brazilian dance and martial art, by members of the Associacao de Capoeria Mandinguerios dos Palmares, located in Central Square. Their Performers ranged from children to middle-aged men and women.

Another participant from the greater Boston community was La Piñata, a children’s dance group which performed merengue, samba and maculele. Spectators on Friday night rewarded the group with a standing ovation.

Following the event, Latin American food donated from area restaurants was served in the Greenhouse at the Science Center.

Timed to coincide with the arrival of hundreds of pre-frosh, participants said the celebration would make a good statement to undecided students.

The Presencia Latina show was followed a day later by a Latin American food festival in Quincy dining hall.

Dishes ranged in origin from many Latino cultures, and while cooked by dining hall staff, were planned by a chef from the cable channel Food Network.

Zach S. Ramirez ’05, wondered if pre-frosh were getting an accurate depiction of what Harvard life is really like. “If I were a pre-frosh and I saw this, I’d be sold,” he said of the cultural events during the weekend, “But it isn’t like this the rest of the year.”

But Bravo said that the cultural show was only the beginning. “This may be the first time [Presencia Latina] has happened, but it’s definitely not the last,” Bravo said, adding that Presencia Latina will be back for a second run next year.