Trinity College

Samba Fest Fun Fair Draws Range of Diversity

Hartford, Conn. – On Saturday, May 3, Eric Galm, Assistant Professor of Music at Trinity, collaborated with the College’s Annual Community Events Staff to host a Samba Fest and Fun Fair for the Greater Hartford community.

The student Samba Ensemble performed under the direction of Galm to headline the event. Other performances included the Hartford Steel Symphony (Caribbean Steel Band), JuggleJoy (Juggling/Circus Duo), and Efraim Silva and Ginga Brasileira, who put on an Afro-Brazilian Martial Art/Dance Demonstration and Workshop. The festival drew an estimated 450-500 people over the course of the day.

Mestre Efraim Silva and Ginga Brasileira provided onlookers with an exciting martial arts demonstration. This was one of several events at this years festival. (photo by Pablo Delano)

“It was like a gathering of extended family,” Galm said. “Rather than constructing a sense of community, the event re-enforced it. There was a real sense of family and intimacy.”

The event director added that the diverse representation ranged from within the College to outside the campus walls. He called the event multi-generational and multi-cultural, making note of the wide range of ages represented, as well as the strong presence from the Latin-American communities from the region.

“It was a local event,” according to Galm, “that could have taken place in Latin America.

"An International student from Columbia said that the event was reminiscent of celebrations back home,” he added. Galm noted this positive energy that was flowing and growing throughout.

“That is the true value of participant observation,” he said. “The students learn how to produce [positive energy] and it feeds back into their music once they see its impact. It’s a loop of transference and it empowers students and translates to their everyday life.”

Crowds gather at Mather Hall to watch Galm and his class perform. (photo by Sarah Hoyle)

Students from the Annual Community Events Staff (ACES), who plan an activity on campus every month, were responsible for recruiting Greek, multi-cultural and other community service groups to host a variety of activities and games for the children. This included a cookie decorating station, a pine cone bird feeder making station, a goldfish toss, a Cake Walk, musical chairs, and other fun events. Also, several of the Greek organizations spent the afternoon grilling all the hot dogs and hamburgers that Chartwells, the on-campus dining services vendor, donated to the event.

“The help was tremendous and appreciated,” Sarah Hoyle, Graduate Assistant of Community Service and Civic Engagement, said. “Everyone was extremely enthusiastic and people really enjoyed themselves.”

The event was co-chaired by students Andrea Chivakos (‘08) and Danielle Grossman (‘08) and was funded in part from a Greater Hartford Arts Council Community Events Grant, and the Mellon Foundation Urban/Global Initiative at Trinity College.

For more information about the Samba Fest Fun Fair or Trinity’s efforts to bridge culture through music, please contact Eric.Galm@trincoll.edu.