CARIBBEAN ARTS PROGRAM
Bomba!
BOMBA is designed to teach children and teachers about Puerto Rican and Caribbean history and culture through the use of traditional music and dance called Bomba, along with other rhythms commonly found in the Caribbean. Bomba is the traditional music and dance style that developed during the Spanish colonization of Puerto Rico as a way of communication between slaves working on the sugar cane plantations on the coasts of Puerto Rico.
BOMBA is designed to teach children and teachers about Puerto Rican and Caribbean history and culture through the use of traditional music and dance called Bomba, along with other rhythms commonly found in the Caribbean. Bomba is the traditional music and dance style that developed during the Spanish colonization of Puerto Rico as a way of communication between slaves working on the sugar cane plantations on the coasts of Puerto Rico.
Students will learn the
basics of Bomba in the form of call and response, where the instructor will
chant a said phrase or call, and the students respond with the appropriate
answer. Students will also learn about the dance of Bomba, which is presented in the form of a game: a completion
between dancer and drummer where the dancer will try to outwit the lead drummer
with their movements, in turn creating their own rhythm. The younger students
(pre-k to 4th grade) will focus on call and response and dance,
while the older students (grades 4th to 8th) will take a
more active role in which they will also perform the instruments (drums and
cua) and interact with their fellow students.
PLENA!
PLENA CARNAVAL is designed to teach children about Puerto Rican and Caribbean history and culture through the traditional music and dance called Plena, along with other rhythms commonly found in the Caribbean. Plena is a traditional music style that developed in the mountain villages of Puerto Rico during the Spanish colonization of the Caribbean. As slaves escaped the sugar plantations on the coasts, they headed inland towards the mountains, where they intermingled with the Spanish farmer settlers (Jibaros) and developed a style of music used to spread news, gossip, and general festivities among the villages. They will also learn about the folklore of Puerto Rico and about the mythical creatures known as Vejigantes and how they are part of the Carnival processions of the island.
PLENA CARNAVAL is designed to teach children about Puerto Rican and Caribbean history and culture through the traditional music and dance called Plena, along with other rhythms commonly found in the Caribbean. Plena is a traditional music style that developed in the mountain villages of Puerto Rico during the Spanish colonization of the Caribbean. As slaves escaped the sugar plantations on the coasts, they headed inland towards the mountains, where they intermingled with the Spanish farmer settlers (Jibaros) and developed a style of music used to spread news, gossip, and general festivities among the villages. They will also learn about the folklore of Puerto Rico and about the mythical creatures known as Vejigantes and how they are part of the Carnival processions of the island.
Students will learn the
basics of Plena’s call and response,
where the instructor will sing a phrase, and the students respond with the
appropriate answer. The younger students
(pre-k to 4th grade) will focus on call and response and dance,
while the older students (grades 4th to 8th) will take a
more active role playing the instruments: panderetas, guiro, and maracas, while
few students will take on the role of Vejigante.
Intro: Come and enjoy our Caribbean Arts workshop to learn how to transform your classroom or venues into the paradise of a Caribbean island using traditional instruments, music, rhythms, dances and finish with a Carnival-style procession, all focusing on the traditional Bomba or Plena music from Puerto Rico.
Overview: Caribbean Arts is a program in which we engage school teachers, children, youths, and parents in Caribbean traditions. We teach the different forms of rhythms hailing from the Caribbean Sea using the traditional instruments while incorporating other traditions, like dance, mask making, costume showcasing and poem reciting.
We will touch upon each subject briefly, as a quick overview of the Puerto Rican culture. We will start with a brief introduction to Puerto Rican culture as a whole, touching briefly on the subjects like Bomba, Plena, call and response songs, and costumes. We then move on to a slightly more in depth view on Plena music, with Panderetas and call and response songs and rhythms or with Bomba music with Drums, Cua, maraca and call and response songs.
Next, the subject of costumes to showcase the dresses and attire of Bomberos and Pleneros will be addressed. Vejigantes will also be showcased, as well as a small introduction on how the masks are made.
Finally, the workshop will culminate with a Carnival style procession, where the participants can showcase what they have learned. They will play the instruments with the rhythms and call and response songs together to get a more personal experience with the Puerto Rican culture.
This program is designed for both youths and adults, to bring together a community of art providers with the general public.
Glossary:
Caribbean- famous Sea off the coast of Florida between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean; contains many different islands, each with unique customs and traditions which makes them beautiful and special
Bomba - an African style of music and dance that flourished along the coastal region and sugar cane fields of Puerto Rico, where a lead singer chants short vocal calls to which the group sings fixed responses; sometimes described to be a challenge between the lead dancer and the lead drummer, where the drum has to follow the movements of the dancer with a synchronized beat.
• At least three drums are required for Bomba, though it can be done with just two: you must have a Requinto, the lead drum who follows the dancer, and two Buleadores, which keep a steady beat. Additional instruments include the Cua, a hollow wooden barrel which is struck with wooden sticks, and most commonly a Maraca. Plena- a traditional style of music developed most prominently on the coasts of Puerto Rico; using improvised call-and-response the singers narrate about current events and their daily lives, often in a satirical manner; often called “the Sung Newspaper” because of its use to spread news and gossip, to criticize, protest, to censor, or just for enjoyment.
Plena - can be played solo, but best heard in a group. Three different hand drums make up the complex beat: the Punteador, which keeps the bass beat, the Seguidor, which add the main beat, and the Requinto, which is the lead drum and can improvise to the player’s liking. There can be any number of panderetas present at any time, but in the case of multiple Requintos, only one may assume lead while the others take the beats of Seguidores.
Vejigante- Mythical figures from town festivals and folklore in Loiza and Ponce, Puerto Rico. Characterized as bad spirits meant to scare people back into the church, they symbolize the Moors that St. James, patron saint of Spain, had fought and vanquished. Masks made from coconut and paper mache come in many bright colors and costumes with bat-like wings further the frightful appearance of the Vejigante. Their name derives from “vejiga” meaning bladder and “gigante” meaning giant due to the custom of blowing up and painting cow bladders which are carried by Vejigantes. In today's Puerto Rican festivals some believe that the vejigante is a figure of resistance to colonialism and imperialism.
CARIBBEAN DIASPORA AND CARIBBEAN ISLAND PROJECT 2014-2015. Please click here.
2014-Plena Carnival group
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| CityArts Summer Camp, July 14-25 |
2013-Bomba group ensemble
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| Highlander Chapter School Ensemble group at CityArts- January,2013 |
Plena group ensemble
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| Caribbean Island: Plena Carnaval ensemble group, November 19, 2014 |
Vejigante and Cabezudos masks
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| Exhibit of our Puerto Rican Masks in University of Rhode Island-September 2013 |
See our Masks and description: Click here.
LYDIA PEREZ AND YORUBA 2
Afro-Caribbean NationalTeaching Artist
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| Ambassador of the Caribbean Arts in New England |
Lydia Perez Yoruba 2, an award-winning and nationally renowned group. Lydia is a highly accomplished and dynamic performer. She presents traditional "Bomba" and "Plena" music, workshops and productions from Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. She has a vast experience working as an arts educator. She has received twenty five awards in traditional arts including 2010 and 1998 Running Up Fellowship, the 2000 Fellowship in Traditional Arts from RISCA and the 2000 Rhode Island Foundation Fellowship.
She is the founder of the Puerto Rican Institute for Arts and Advocacy, (PRIAA). PRIAA was awarded by the RI Foundation with the 2007 “Economic, Community Development” award. PRIAA is member of NALAC. For more about PRIAA, please click here.
Lydia is member of Cambridge Who's Who, Boston, MA
Artistic Associate at Teatro Vida, Springfield, MA.
Coalición de Artistas Puertorriqueños, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Member of RITAC, Rhode Island
Artistic Associate at Teatro Vida, Springfield, MA.
Coalición de Artistas Puertorriqueños, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Member of RITAC, Rhode Island
