Miami's Third Bomba y Plena Festival on October 25: Free Celebration of Puerto Rican Music at the Miami Beach Bandshell
On October 25, the third Festival de Bomba y Plena took place at the Miami Beach Bandshell, with doors at 4 p.m. and the event running until 10 p.m., free with advance reservation. Bomba and plena are Puerto Rico's most representative traditional music and dance forms; when the drums sound, dancers form a batey circle and improvise. The day's lineup included Miami's Jacareo, Orlando's D'Pleneros, Central Florida's Capullitos de Aleli and Miami Bloco, plus DJs and on-site vendors. There were also Puerto Rican food stalls, local artisans and cultural booths, and family-friendly interactive activities, and attendees could bring their own drums to join the open batey. For South Florida's Puerto Rican community, it is an annual day by the sea to affirm their cultural roots; for first-time bomba audiences, stepping into the circle to the beat of the drums is the most direct introduction.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 波多黎各邦巴舞表演，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 2.0
