Renowned international performers will gather at the Merengue Festival in Santo Domingo to be held on July 29-31 at the Plaza Juan Barón Fajardo del Malecón in the Dominican capital. This edition will be dedicated to singer Francis Santana for his more than 69 years of artistic career. The Festival will also pay tribute to two leading merengueros of the ’80s: Dioni Fernández and Aníbal Bravo. The 44th edition will feature performances from these top artists. Dioni and Anibal will have their own special night where they’ll be singing their best hits. Aníbal Bravo will lead the Festival opening event along with some of the most important band members, while Dioni Fernández will close this edition on Sunday 31st. Both bands became merengue schools during their golden years as they “trained” leading artists who are still on the top lists.
Merengue music has been at the heart of Dominican culture for decades, and every year since the 1980s the Ministry of Tourism has sponsored a weekend long celebration of this distinctive musical style. The event attracts merengue performers and enthusiasts from all over Latin America, the United States and the rest of the world, and for a few days the entire city seems to go dance-crazy. We encourage guests staying at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel & Casino to join in the fun and move their hips to some of merengue’s biggest international stars while taking in the sights of the Caribbean Sea along El Malecón.
http://www.fiestahotelgroup.com/en/news/2011/jul/18/merengueros-in-santo-domingo/