BOMBAntillana
BOMBAntillana is a collective of people of all ages and backgrounds, coming together to connect with ourselves, each other, and our ancestors through the powerful art form of Bomba.
BOMBAntillana welcomes anyone interested in exploring and honoring the ancestral roots of Borikén/Puerto Rico while learning to play percussion instruments, sing, and move through Bomba. People of all ages and abilities are welcome and we learn together in the same space. Bomba is communal — and so is our approach to teaching and learning. We look forward to a special weekend of Bomba in Boston Aug 13-16!
Thanks to the support of Save The Harbor/Save The Bay's Better Beaches program, DSNI's Plaza Borinquen committee and The Upton, BOMBAntillana is hosting a special weekend with Ivelisse "Bombera De Corazón" Diaz, a DiaspoRican leader in Bomba hailing from Chicago!
Weekend Schedule with Ivelisse:
Thursday Aug. 13, 7-8:15pm:
O'Day Park, 85 W. Newton St, Boston MA 02118
Welcome party at Tito Puente Latin Music Series salsa concert at O'Day Park (indoors at La CASA if it rains)! Come listen, vibe out and enjoy some follow along dancing led by BOMBAntillana's own Eli Pabón representing MetaMovements. FREE!
Friday Aug. 14, 6pm-8pm (event starts at 5pm):
Plaza Borinquen, 581 Dudley Street, Boston MA 02125
Let's activate Plaza Borinquen with a Free Bomba Movement Workshop led by Ivelisse, followed by live music by BOMBAntillana featuring special guest Ivelisse! Event begins at 5pm with food & activities thanks to DSNI! FREE!
Saturday Aug. 15, 2pm-3:30pm:
Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth Street, Boston, MA
Special Bomba Workshop led by Ivelisse Diaz. You won't want to miss this! Cost: $20 (adults) & $5 (ages 18 & under)
Sunday Aug. 16, 1pm-5pm:
Wollaston Beach Playground, E Elm Ave, Quincy, MA
Live music by BOMBAntillana with special guest Ivelisse Diaz, performance by MetaMovements, celebration of August birthdays (including Ivelisse's birthday), an open Bombazo for all to play, sing and dance, a community art activity, vendors, vibes & more!
FREE! RSVP here
About Ivelisse Diaz:
Ivelisse “Bombera de Corazón” Diaz is dynamic performer, educator, and cultural organizer in Puerto Rican Bomba. She was born and raised in Humboldt Park and is deeply rooted in the traditions of her ancestral home : Puerto Rico. For over three decades, she has amplified Afro-Puerto Rican culture to inspire, educate, and unite communities, using Bomba as a tool for community building, cultural preservation, education and social change.
She is the founder and director of La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón, a pioneering music and cultural arts school established in 2009 that blends intergenerational arts education with social justice, based in Humboldt Park. Ivelisse also directs the longest standing all-women’s Bomba y Plena ensemble Las BomPleneras, Bomberxs D’Cora and is a founding member and former lead vocalist of Bomba con Buya and Grupo Yuba.
Known for her resilience, visionary leadership, and fierce love for her culture, Ivelisse has taught and performed across the globe, uplifting and evolving Bomba for new generations, all while honoring the elders and those who paved the way. With a family legacy that spans 3 generations and a commitment to cultural continuity, she is a living bridge between tradition and transformation in Puerto Rican Bomba, always guided by familia, resistance, and community. Ivelisse remains deeply rooted in her culture as a proud Boricua de Chicago, Guayama and a devoted mother to her daughter, Amaya.
