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Posted: Tuesday 3 June, 2014 at 10:53 AM

An in-depth look at the Latin Fiesta Festival

By: Jenise Ferlance-Isaac, SKNVibes.com

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - IT is fast becoming a signature event, as each year sees an increase in patrons making their way to its venue to explore a different culture and taste an alternative form of entertainment.

     

    It is the Latin Fiesta Festival, which is quickly making its way to the top of the entertainment chain; but what makes this event such a crowd puller?

    SKNVibes spoke with the Director of Latin Festival Michelle Demming, who gave an in-depth look at the much anticipated event.

    She explained that the Festival is the brainchild of its Chairman Jose Rosa and initially it was a one-off event so that Latinos and nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis could party to Meringue, Salsa and other types of Latin music.

    "The Festival was just to have a little Latin party and this was done at Spice Mill the first year. We never thought it would have been that big! It was just supposed to be done once at that point."

    She stated that some 600 persons attended the concert that year, which saw dance competitions along with artistes and bands from across Latin America .

    Demming elucidated that based on the acceptance of everyone, especially the locals, the event instantaneously became an annual phenomenon.

    She said that the decision was made to also extend the festival and make it a week-long celebration with several activities taking place during the week leading up to the grand Sunday concert. 

    The week’s activities include art galleries, workshops and movie nights among a host of mini-events.

    "The second year, we also hosted it at Spice Mill and the theme was African Heritage. That year we had a larger crowd...we had about 800 to 900 persons." 

    "Sometimes we have that fear that because it is not a local thing, but a Latin Festival, people are not going to gravitate towards this. But, what was exciting to us was to see that most of the audience was common local people and seeing them enjoying themselves is simply a mark that we are going in the right direction," she said.

    Demming said suggestions were given to have the event monthly or quarterly, but "we know the reality of it. An event of this magnitude is not something we can do every month or even every three months because it requires a lot".

    She informed that the third staging of the Latin Festival was hosted at Carambola under the theme Brazilian Carnival and had featured Brazilian girls showcasing carnival costumes. 

    It attracted a whopping 2 000 attendees. 

    Another mini-event was also added to the growing list of preliminary activities - movie night.

    Last year's event was held at the Marriott Beach under the theme Dominican Republic Edition. And according to Demming, it was the largest staging yet, attracting some 3 600 people.

    The Latin Festival’s Director disclosed that the organisers are of the view that one of the major attractions to the event is the fact that attendees always have something new and exciting to look forward to, adding that "we are excited, we are prepping, working really hard this year...it is our fifth anniversary. We are trying to ensure that we maintain that standard as well to keep that excitement".

    She said that the event serves more than just being a different form of entertainment for the people, for it is also a way of bringing the different cultures together and exploring the many little things each has in common.

    "What we really want to achieve is for the common Kittitian to see and understand that we have many things in common with all the Lain American countries. St. Kitts is a very diverse island right now...and sometimes you would hear people say, 'Why you don't go back to your country.' But the truth is, we have some things in our background that they have too.

    "And one of those things is culture - our African heritage. It is something strong and it is something that we need to learn and appreciate. It is something we should be proud and happy about, and we should try to highlight that. Instead of criticising one another, we should be about uniting as brothers and sisters."

    Demming stated that the languages spoken might just be the only barrier, "but it should not even be, because we have so many other things that unite us".

    She said that breaking down the barriers between the Latin community and the local populace is the main aim of the Latin Festival. "It is to help enhance all of our similarities so that we can live better, because in a community so small we should be living better."

    Demming promised that this year's event would be bigger and better, as they would be 'pulling out all the stops' for the fifth anniversary. She is encouraging everyone to be a part of this fiesta and "Explore Your Latin Side", because it is bound to be a memorable event.
     
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