I am a fourth-generation Bomba practitioner and culture-bearer from Santurce, Puerto Rico; a community educator, researcher, college professor, musician, and performer. I have over 20 years of experience developing highly engaging cultural activities, and arts programs for the BIPOC, underserved, and disadvantaged communities throughout the New York tri-state area. I specialize in Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and Latin American music and culture. I taught at John Jay College for Criminal Justice where I created the course Introduction to Afro Caribbean Music and Dance. I am the founder and director of La Tribu del Juey Sambuco (La Tribu), an Afro-Caribbean music and dance ensemble and arts in education company. La Tribu has been featured at the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center, El Museo del Barrio, the Long Island Museum, and the Bomplenazo. I have performed with Los Pleneros de la 21, Papo Vázquez, Paracumbé, and La Familia Cepeda among others. I am the recipient of the NJSCA Master Folk Artist Grant, City Parks Foundation Green/Arts Live NYC grant, NYFA City Artists Corps grant, NYSCA Support for Artists grant, Bronx Council on the Arts SU-CASA grant, and Dance/NYC’s Coronavirus Dance Relief Fund.
