The Des Moines Area Community College Perry VanKirk Career Academy is hosting a special event at the end of March, and they invite the public to a night of dancing, drinks, and education.

DMACC Perry Director Eddie Diaz says the event is called “A Little Salsa on the Prairie,” which will be hosted at Hotel Pattee on Friday, March 27th. The festivities will run from 7 p.m. to midnight, starting off with an hour-long salsa dance class. Live music will be provided throughout the evening by Parranderos Latin Combo and DJ XAN, and there will also be a cash bar. Diaz adds, there will be booths showing off what they’ve been working on recently at the VanKirk Center. The event is being co-sponsored by Hispanics United for Perry, Hotel Pattee, and the Perry Chamber of Commerce.

The cost to attend is $15 per person if you purchase tickets ahead of time, or $20 at the door. Tickets are available at the DMACC Perry office, the Chamber office, Hotel Pattee, Raccoon Valley Bank, and the Perry Public Library. All proceeds will benefit the DMACC SQUAD program for graduating seniors at Perry High School. Diaz says students in SQUAD get individual guidance, financial support, summer trips, and college classes through DMACC, in order to get a leg up on succeeding in life after high school.

For more information on “A Little Salsa on the Prairie” and the SQUAD program, contact Diaz by phone at 515-428-8120 or by email at ediaz@dmacc.edu.