A&I ​“Pops Up” With Salsa, ​“I Love Dixwell” Tributes

An advance mini-version of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas ​“popped up” in Dixwel Saturday afternoon, as hundreds of neighbors kicked out the jams in Scantlebury Park.

This is the fourth year that the neighborhood hosted a ​“Celebrate Dixwell Pop-Up” as a lead-up to the grand International Festival Arts & Ideas, which kicks off on the Green this coming Saturday.

Despite the scorching sun, various craft vendors and organizations — from New Haven Museum to Peabody On the Go — set up booths and attracted a large crowd to the open grass field. Dance groups led participants in body rolls and side shakes, while a stone’s throw away, kids played with the water feature.

“We started [the festival] because we saw talents in the community and wanted to help neighbors celebrate the neighborhood,” Arts & Ideas Executive Director MaryLou Aleskie said. She added that the neighborhood festival has traditionally attracted a ​“good crowd” from New Haven before the central festival draws participants from throughout New England.

Starting last year, the organizing committee put up a huge board where people could jot down why they love Dixwell. The goal is to give them an an opportunity to feel pride in community and celebrate publicly, Aleskie said.

“There is nothing like this,” performer Alisa Bowens said after she led the audience in salsa and cha-cha. Bowens, who runs Alia’s House of Salsa (and hosts a weekly show on WNHH radio), has been involved in Arts & Ideas for 15 years. ​“It brings the community together. Everyone celebrates through dance, music and poetry.”

The highlight of the festival was ​“Africa is Me,” a performance that showcased African drums and dances. It combines professional artists and neighborhood-based performance groups. The ensemble will perform again at the Green on June 18.

“You can feel the energy,” performer Teake said of the occasion.