BOMBAntillana
Bomba, from Borikén (Puerto Rico), connects us to a vital part of American and Caribbean history—one that risks being erased if not intentionally preserved, as our ancestors have done for generations. Thanks to families such as the Cepeda, Ayala, and Alduén, among others, Bomba as an art form has been passed down through the centuries, often kept hidden for survival.
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Today, Bomba offers an engaging way for people of all ages and backgrounds to explore Puerto Rico’s often-overlooked history while creatively expressing musicality, cultural connection, and improvisation.
BOMBAntillana hosts Bomba Sessions to keep this tradition alive—through Sunday Sessions, Birthday Bombasos, community workshops (talleres), and special events, sometimes held separately, and other times combined.
Everyone is welcome to participate in all of BOMBAntillana's offerings, regardless of age, ability, or background. These sessions are designed to support anyone interested in learning about, preserving, and/or celebrating this beautiful tradition—while also building community and increasing self-awareness.
BOMBAntillana Sessions:
Talleres/Workshops in Bomba Music & Movements
BOMBAntillana's Sessions are community talleres / workshops in Bomba music & movements led by long-time Bomba practitioner, singer, dancer, and percussionist Eli Pabón, with ongoing support from members of the BOMBAntillana collective.
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People of all ages and backgrounds are welcomed and encouraged to explore and experience all the elements of Bomba - from learning percussion to singing songs to dancing. Bomba-themed arts & crafts available for the littles and the littles within us.
Upcoming Bomba Music & Movements Sunday Sessions:
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Dates: Sundays March 1 & 8, 2026, 2:30 - 3:30PM - SUNDAY FEB 22 CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW STORM​
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NEW Location: JAE DANCE CENTER, 2153 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119
PAST WORKSHOPS IN 2026
A long-awaited collaboration is here! Rooted in shared values, community, and a love for music and movement, this partnership marks the first official step forward together. Inite Fè La Fuerza – because In Unity, There Is Strength!
Join us Friday, February 6th, 7–9 PM at the JAE Dance Center (2153 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA) for a special evening including a taste of the programs we’ll be cultivating in 2026. Experience dance, song, and live percussion as Jean Appolon Expressions, BOMBAntillana, and MetaMovements unite for a collaborative Master Class honoring Afro-Cuban, Afro-Haitian, and Afro-Puerto Rican traditions—blending folkloric forms with Cuban Modern and Horton-based techniques.
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Come dance. Come sing. Come drum.
All ages and experience levels are welcome.​
Click here for more info about Jean Appolon Expressions & click here for more info about MetaMovements!
BOMBAntillana Bombazos!
BOMBAntillana Bombazos!
BOMBAntillana brings together professional Bomba musicians and practitioners of all levels for periodic Community Bombazos in different locations throughout Greater Boston.
Sometimes we host them ourselves, and sometimes we're invited by others who want to bring Bomba into their neighborhoods, events, parties, schools, workplaces, and more.
Upcoming Community Bombazos:​​
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Thursday March 12, 2026 (6:30-8:30PM) at La Sala, 2379 Washington Street, Roxbury MA 02119!
Birthday Bombaso with BOMBAntillana -- A monthly community celebration honoring lives born each month. Let us know if your birthday is in March so we can celebrate YOU! Free entry as our gift to you.
Tickets are $15 for adults & free for kids if purchased before March 12! On March 12th, ticket prices increase ($25 for adults, $5 for kids)!
​Want to bring a Bombaso to your next gathering?
Or be added to our contact list (email and/or WhatsApp) to get updates on upcoming Bombasos?
BOMBAntillana's annual event: Bomba By The Sea!
BOMBAntillana's annual event: Bomba By The Sea!
Honoring Sacred Connections... To the Ocean... To Our Ancestors... To Ourselves...
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What began as a shared love for the ocean and a desire to honor our ancestors evolved into Bomba By The Sea — an annual, community-rooted cultural event that celebrates the connection between humanity, water, and ancestry.
Every summer, Bomba By The Sea participants experience:
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Live presentations by professional Bomba dancers, singers, and percussionists
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Original songs centered on water, memory, and climate change
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A non-religious altar honoring our ancestors and the ocean
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Visual art activities reflecting on Bomba, identity, healing, and environmental justice
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BIPOC small business vendors for community support and engagement
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In 2024, with support from Save The Harbor / Save The Bay’s Better Beaches Grant Program and the City of Boston’s Neighborhood Activation Grant, BOMBAntillana members brought this vision to life. The pilot event, “Bomba By The Sea // Ola de la Mar,” was held at Constitution Beach (East Boston, MA) and invited participants of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to connect with the ocean and ancestral memory through Bomba music and dance.
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In 2025, the event “Bomba By The Sea: A Rumbombazo” was held at Playground Park by Wollaston Beach (Quincy, MA), and expanded to include live folkloric Cuban music and a collaborative dance honoring the ocean, our ancestors, and shared roots, in partnership with the MetaMovements Artist Collective, featuring musician, dancer, and master instructor Javier Jeffer.
​Stay tuned for the next edition of Bomba By The Sea in the summer of 2026, and join us in celebrating the rhythms of our ancestors and the ocean that connects us all.