says. For Latino students and non-Latino students alike, Los Mejicas provides the opportunity to connect to and learn more about Mexican culture. Costumes Traditional folkloric costume varies across each Mexican region. The attire in the Federal District of Mexico reflects the traditional Spanish influence while the Yucatán region reflects indigenous traditions. Northern Mexico folkloric costumes also have their unique style—the costumes from the Jalisco region in Mexico have women wear brightly colored ruffled skirts that are trimmed with ribbons and ornate hair pieces. The region of Veracruz instead has women wear beautiful white dresses that are full of lace. The coastal region of Mexico, specifically Sinaloa, has women wear lighter and more colorful dresses. Generally, male dancers wear black slacks; a black, wide brimmed hat (sombrero); and a red belt and tie. The Mejicas incorporate the different styles each Mexican region represents in their costume attire for performances. Based on what region the members of Los Mejicas will perform, they create their own choreography. Each costume is unique and is used in different ways depending on the region. Membership Los Mejicas comprises both students of the University of California, Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz community members. It has a set of Core Members who are voted in by Mejicas members at the end of each academic year. Core consists of two co-directors, two costume directors, an events coordinator, a finance coordinator and a historian. Los Mejicas accept dancers of all levels of experience. Los Mejicas functions as a student organization and club, but also functions as a class where students can enroll through the Latin American and Latino Studies or through the Anthropology department for class credit and fulfillment of an arts general education requirement. It is open to students of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Events Los Mejicas performs at a myriad of cultural events on campus at UC Santa Cruz, but also off campus in the Santa Cruz community. Events include things such as Spanish Camp, ORALE “Brought to you by MECHA”, Danzantes Unidos Festival “Carnaval de Muertitos", Womyn of Color Conference 2011 “Celebrating Our Stories: Breaking Traditional Constraints and Striving for Empowerment”, UCSC Day by the Bay Celebration, Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Santa Cruz High School, Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Soledad Prison, Relay For Life 2011, Multi-cultural Festival “MCF", Baile Folklórico Stanford Annual Concierto de la Primavera at Stanford University and finally at the end