The rhythmic poetry, hip-hop and songs of visiting artists filled the Zoller Gallery last night with the energy of the performers and the admiration of the audience.

These performances, titled "Una Noche Bohemia," concluded the first day of a two-day celebration of Latin culture called "Sones de la Calle: Latina/o Popular Culture and Politics." Since 1999, the Latina/o Studies Initiative, a group of Penn State faculty members, has been organizing events such as this to promote Latina/o Studies.

"We hope to bring together Latina/o students, faculty and staff in events fostering solidarity," Jane Juffer, assistant professor of English and women's studies, said in an email.

"These artists are widely regarded in the field of Latina/o cultural production," she said.

Argentine poet Mariano Calbi opened the evening, followed by Rubén Davila Olano, a native of Peru -- both reading their poetry in Spanish.

As the night continued, the performers became more animated.

Sandra García Rivera, a native of New York City, who has published a collection of poetry called Divination of the Mistress, read her poetry mostly in English while delivering many of the punch lines in Spanish. Her enthusiasm and lively gestures energized the crowd.

"Her poetry was embodied in her," Midori Valdivia said (freshman-international politics).

"The topic of most of my poetry is political and sensitive to the issues women and youth face," Rivera said.

She hesitatingly read a critical journal entry about the events on Sept. 11, for which she received a partial standing ovation.

Inti Célis Ortiz, whose work also had a political theme, sang Spanish hip-hop to music. He was well-received by the crowd, who clapped to the beat of his songs.

"The part that really effected me was the war in Colombia," Valdivia said.

Others in the audience who did not understand much Spanish said they still enjoyed the show.

"It was easier for me to understand (Rivera) . . . but I liked (Ortiz's) rap though," Lana Carbonara (junior-Italian) said.

The evening concluded with an open mic for local artists.

Today, "Sones de la Calle" continues. A brown bag lunch and informal discussion of Latin American Politics will take place at noon in 14-15 Burrowes Building. The speakers include Calbi, Argentine poet and professor at the University of Buenos Aires, who will talk about the recent political and economical turmoil in Argentina.

Juan Flores, a professor of Black and Puerto Rican Studies from New York, will give a talk entitled "Nueva York, Diaspora City: Latinos Between and Beyond" at 3 p.m. in the Foster Auditorium of Pattee Library.

"His talk will be especially interesting in the wake of Sept. 11," Juffer said. "(He) is one of the most prominent Latino critics in the country."