10/31/2022 0 Comments Bomba in english![]() ![]() When they start doing ‘shake-y shake-y’ with their shoulders, that’s where I draw the line. Turning serious for a moment, she added: “B omba is about hand movements, arm gestures, and footwork. I remind them that each of us has our own style and unique flavor. Reflecting on what she sees in children learning to dance, she said: “The children who come here are very excited to learn the music and the dance. Though she is retired from traveling with the dance troupe her father created, she remains active in their rehearsals , as an observer and educator. ![]() And while Raquel Ayala’s legacy as matriarch remains unquestioned, it goes beyond that of her bloodline. ![]() Today, more than 60 years later, Loíza’s bomba tradition continues. Their performing in festivals and participating in television and travel channel documentaries allowed bomba to reach a much wider audience. Traveling internationally to México, the Dominican Republic, Perú, and throughout the East Coast of the United States, the Ayalas showcased Puerto Rico’s vibrantly rich heritage. In time the group would be offered numerous opportunities to bring bomba to other shores. Raquel continued fine-tuning her craft as the group’s principal female dancer. I was 15.”īy 1959, Don Castor officially founded the dance company as a cultural non-profit organization. “Later, when my older siblings married and after Celia had already moved to Boston, it was only me, my nephews and nieces who remained. Father said I couldn’t be a part of the group until I was older,” Ayala recalled. “Being the youngest at the time, the group consisted of my sister Celia and my brothers Marcos and Rubén. Back then, her father, Don Castor Ayala, began forming what would become the family’s musical legacy, the Ballet Folclórico Los Hermanos Ayala de Loíza ( Ayala Folkloric Ballet of Loíza). Innovating her unique style, she flowed freely to those radio tunes her parents played in their humble home.Īt the tender age of seven, she started learning to dance bomba, one of Puerto Rico’s traditional folk genres where call-and-response forms the backdrop of an impassioned conversation between subidor (main drummer) and bailador (dancer). As a young child listening to Cheo Feliciano and Ismael “Maelo” Rivera, Ayala -who says salsa was her first love- knew music to be an intrinsic part of her being. Raquel Ayala has always had a passion for dance. It is here, at the intersection of art and music, that we find two of the town’s most celebrated icons: bomba dancer Raquel Ayala and renowned painter and sculptor Samuel Lind. Affectionately labeled the “ Capital of Tradition ,” this coastal town is widely known for mouth-watering seafood, seemingly endless shorelines, and its spectacular annual week-long festival honoring Saint James.Īnd while many tourists venture outside of Old San Juan to experience the abundantly colorful sights and sounds this pueblo offers, they’ve only recently begun to see what loiceños have understood for generations: Loíza’s undisputed role as the mecca of Afro-Puerto Rican culture. LOÍZA, Puerto Rico - Situated in the northeast region of Puerto Rico, Loíza has for decades captivated visitors. Author Lola Rosario, left, with legendary bomba dancer Raquel Ayala, Loíza, Puerto Rico. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |