BAR HARBOR — College of the Atlantic’s annual Fandango celebration is set for Friday, April 27, beginning at 8 p.m. The celebration is a fund-raiser for an organization working in El Salvador. The evening features dance, music, poetry, a raffle and silent auction, as well as food from around the globe.

Singers, dancers, poets, and more will take the stage during the Fandango in an effort to raise money for Mano Hermana. Among the performers are many of COA’s 60 international students, as the event is being organized by Pangea, COA’s international student organization.

Included in this year’s Fandango lineup will be the popular Gumboot Dance which originated with the laborers working the gold mines of South Africa. The dancers wear rubber boots, reflecting the heavy gumboots worn by miners. As the dancers rhythmically stomp on the wooden stage, the boots enhance the power of the movement.

Additional dances include a belly dance; Alforja Campesina, a dance with swirling skirts from El Salvador and Nicaragua; a rousing polka; and some specialties from the United States.

Music ranges from a cappella to rock ’n’ roll, blues to ukulele, with a few sessions of drumming and African percussion. There will be poetry from Panama and slam poetry from the United States, including a special poem about compost. Expect good humor and great talent along with some quiet, lovely music, a COA spokesman said.

Mano Hermana is a new organization in El Salvador that works in the San Martin, Soyapango neighborhood of the country’s capital, San Salvador. The section is considered one of the nation’s most dangerous neighborhoods because of the high levels of organized crime and extreme poverty there. Mano Hermana focuses on the most vulnerable members of the community, especially the young, offering literacy campaigns, educational gardening, art shows, community potlucks, soccer tournaments, English and Spanish courses, hikes, and more. As third-year COA student Andrea Molina, who is from El Salvador and has worked with this organization, says, “It all sounds so fancy and nice, but it has all been a challenge. And it has been possible only thanks to the unconditional support of people that believe in us and in our project.”

There will be a raffle for $1 per ticket or six for $5, and includes gift certificates from local businesses such as Two Cats, Bees, North Face, and Fathom Restaurant.

There is an admission fee of $5 for adults and $2 for students. It is free for those 15 years old and younger. Donations and all proceeds from tickets, food sales, silent auction, and raffle go to Mano Hermana. For more information contact Amber Igasia at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or 288-5015.

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