Salem Landmark To Host Fusion Fest Free Cultural Event

SALEM, MA — Salem's historic The House of the Seven Gables will be the host to a free festival that celebrates the food, music, dance and art of many different countries and cultures when Fusion Fest comes to the Gables' lawn on Aug. 13.

The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. and is designed to honor The Gables' adult students who attend ESL citizenship classes.

Since 1910, The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association has supported new residents with a range of programming to ease their transitions. Of the 350 students from 17 countries who have taken language and citizenship classes this year, 45 have become U.S. citizens, according to Gables Settlement and Education programs Manager Ellen Berry.

The Fusion Fest entertainment lineup includes:

Noon to 12:30 p.m.: Greg Coles, African/Caribbean drumming performance & mini-lesson
12:45 to 1:15 p.m.: Boston Casineros with Amanda Rodrigue & Alejandro Castro;
Cuban salsa performance & mini-lesson
1:30 to 2 p.m.: Singer/songwriter Rosario Rivas, Argentinian Tango;
accompanied by G Rockwell, guitar; Noah Harrington, bass
2:15 to 2:45 p.m.: Felipe Collazo, acoustic guitar
3 to 3:30 p.m.: BOMBA Antillana; Puerto Rican dance with Eli Pabon
3:45 to 4:15 p.m.: Capoeira Brasil/New England
Capoeira with Breno Martino; performance and mini-lesson

Nineteen-year-old Rivas is from Argentina and is now attending the New England Conservatory where she has found her own interpretations of her native country's Tango music. She will perform her original songs at Fusion Fest.

"While Tango is known, I don't hear it enough, especially here," she said. "The music can generate more — more questions, more ideas, more approaches and interests — in the ways I interpret it.

"I'm excited to bring Tango to people here. I’ve been in this country a year now and I’m very happy to share with people from Latin America, too. Among those in attendance will be people who can relate to me and who can understand what I am saying. I haven't had a lot of opportunities to do this."

Among the countries represented at Fusion Fest are: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain and Ukraine.

Proceeds from English-language house tour ticket sales during Fusion Fest will be given to a participating Ukrainian humanitarian organization.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)