As the streets of Bloomington were buzzing with people, music, dancing and artwork this weekend, so were all the concert venues during Lotus Fest. At 8 p.m. Saturday evening a line of fans waiting to see Afro-Peruvian singer Eva Ayllon formed at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

The line extended from the doors of the Buskirk-Chumley to Walnut Street and was full of people who had heard of Ayllon but had never heard her sing. It was not just her fans that were so anxiously waiting outside to get in, but there also were the few eager people who wanted to experience a new style of music. Luckily, all those who were standing eagerly in line were able to hear the strong, powerful singer that is Ayllon and to get a taste of Peru.

"I take an interest to different styles of music -- especially that of Brazilian and Peruvian culture -- and the fact she is a female, influential singer of her country is what attracted me to come see her tonight," said Kelly Kelsey, a teacher and singer from Texas.

As the background singers and the band-mates entered the stage and took their places, the people in the audience took to their seats and waited for the main attraction to make her entrance.

The backdrop displayed columns with panels of blue and purple squares. Over top were different-length panels of silk that had a look of flames with a mixture of red, orange and yellow. The band included a bass player, a guitarist, a piano player, a cajonist and two backup singers in all black.

Minutes passed by, and then came a roar from the crowd as Ayllon entered the stage wearing a black tank with a sheer back, black polyester pants, a wrap-around black skirt over her pants, and a huge smile that welcomed everyone in the audience.

She started the concert with a song that got the people dancing in their seats and enticed them with her bodily rhythms. Her voice was so powerful that it made you weak at the knees with every word she sang. Her dancing was very sensual with a salsa flair.

As the concert continued, the audience became addicted to the music. It seemed to have an entrancing affect as audience members were pulled on to the stage one by one to dance with her. Her vibrant, powerful voice and the flowing sway of her hips made it extremely hard to take your eyes off of her.

"I have been singing since the age of 3, and singing professionally since that age of 14. And what got me singing was my grandmother, and she was my motivation for singing," Ayllon said.

She welcomed each person who came up to the stage area and led them in dancing, interacting with each one of them. All of the people in the audience flocked to the stage to be close to her and her music. Ayllon not only interacted with the audience, she also interacted with her band by getting each of them to dance along with her. You could truly tell that she was loved by the audience and that there was a bond between her and her band.

This concert was top notch and very riveting. People protested the end of the show, crying "NO." It was a real crowd-pleaser, and Ayllon just kept drawing people into the building during the performance. She also kept giving the people in the building little bits of knowledge of the Peruvian culture. Audience members left the building with sweat dripping from their foreheads from all the dancing.

"Amazing. Everyone loved her; one of her best shows," said Caroline Garland, a fan and native Peruvian who now lives in Cincinnati.

Garland said Ayllon is an idol to her and that every time Ayllon is here in America it makes her happy to be able to see her. Ayllon's fans weren't the only ones blown away with her performance -- even people who had never even heard of her were taken aback. Ayllon said she enjoys the positive response.

"I love my job and love the reaction I get from the audience," Ayllon said.

Ayllon said she hopes to be able to show this style of music to everyone in the world and experience a little bit of Peru. She said she wants to show off the black culture from Peru to Americans and to make all Americans dance to this kind of music. After Saturday night, she definitely left audience members and those of the Lotus Festival with a unique Peruvian experience.

--Contact staff writer Rose Mary Forte at rforte@indiana.edu.