The famous and renewing Dominican merenguero Johnny Ventura and popular singer - Maridalia Hernandez of 440 along with Juan Luis Guerra will offer two concerts on 4 and 5 July in the Heredia Theater of this eastern city, with the accompaniment of the project La Gallera and orchestra under the baton of Jochy Sanchez.

The presentation of the renowned Dominican artists is part of the surprises of the 35th uninterrupted edition of the Festival of Fire, from 3rd to 9th July flood the eastern city with all the color and flavor of the Caribbean lore, as a gift to the five centuries of its founding villa.

Dedicated to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, cultural treat promises important new moments as the creation of the Network of Caribbean Carnival and the development of a panel of historians Cuban villas with 500 years. This will join the symposium traditional spaces like the Caribbean that unites us, the Meeting of Caribbean poets, music workshops, popular religions, storytelling and popular theater, the meeting of young artists and performances by more than 40 artistic units of Cuba and the region in different locations of the city, as stated in the event program.

Orlando Verges, head of the festival organizing committee, told reporters that the joint effort of the Casa del Caribe, the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic and the embassy of that sister nation in Cuba, has made it possible to materialize the idea caressed from previous editions, the performance for the first time in Cuba Ventura, who at 75 years is a living throughout the Caribbean and Latin American region legend.

Nicknamed in his homeland as El Caballo Mayor Johnny Ventura is considered the Dominican singer who modernized and made faster and moved the merengue beat, to introduce saxophones, trumpets, piano, drums, electronic effects, timbales, and incorporate elements from other rhythms without losing the essence and natural colors.

Ventura's performance, along with Maridalia and La Gallera, reaffirm the historic ties that unite the Dominican and Cuban nations, and is an expression of international recognition of the Caribbean Festival, an event that, in the words of Orlando Verges, envisions for this edition record 38 participating countries.

Accompanied by his group, the equally popular Combo Show, Ventura is also considered an innovator for his lyrics. He was recognized with the Award for Musical Excellence by the Latin Recording Academy in 2006, and his music was all the rage in Cuba in the 80s, when issues such as the Patacón Pisa'o did move an entire people at parties as the Santiago carnival.