By Jessica Schira and Trent Love
La India, Tito Rojas and Frankie Negron came together for a Salsa Palooza Concert 2012 at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in November.
Things started getting caliente when La India was performing “Vivir Lo Nuestro.” She was so absorbed in the song that she didn’t notice the second-floor balcony was on fire and people had started to run out of the auditorium.
“This is the first time something like this has happened,” said 55-year-old retiree William Bonet.
It was unclear why security didn’t start to evacuate the center as soon as they smelled the smoke. Instead, they waited until La India finished the song and then escorted her off the stage.
“Nadie dijo nada, (no one said anything),” said Midna Blanco, a middle school teacher from Honduras. “It is very disrespectful for the audience not to let them know what was going on. They kept us wondering.” She added, “They took the artist out first!”
People were told to evacuate the area around 9:30 pm. “I feel good that security took precautions, but they should’ve evacuated before,” said Gloria de Jesus, 50.
After people exited, security shut the doors and firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire. People were wondering if they would be allowed to go back in to continue enjoying the concert. Nobody came out to tell people what was to going to happen – whether the concert would continue or whether they would get a refund.
Many people were angry, saying they wanted their money back if the concert didn’t resume. Security opened the doors again nearly 30 minutes later. La India went back on state and continued the concert as if nothing happened.
Members of the non-profit organization Foxy Families, an organization that works with the Bronx community to collect donations when disaster strikes, didn’t lose their enthusiasm. Its CEO Evelyn Torres, and others such as Assemblyman Jose Rivera and Annette de Jesus, sang salsa songs and took pictures with firefighters while they were waiting to enter the center again.
“We worked very hard throughout the week of Hurricane Sandy and we took this night to relax,” Annette de Jesus explained. “Today we just took a night for us.”
After the fire, people were allowed to re-enter to enjoy the performance of La India, who who did a tribute to Celia Cruz, singing “La Bemba Colora” and “Kimbara.”
Earlier, Frankie Negron had opened the concert with a show of solidarity and compassion for people who were affected by the ferocious storm.
“I pray for you every day, those who suffered during Hurricane Sandy. If there is anything I can do, please let me know,” Negron said.
Tito Rojas closed the show with an enthusiastic crowd. Filing out at the end of the night, people said they felt satisfied with the evening overall, despite the pyrotechnics.
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