About BombaYo
BombaYo emerges from the streets and schoolyards of NYC, where salsa and hip hop were born. Under the direction of Jose L. Ortiz aka Dr.Drum and Melinda Gonzalez, BombaYo’s young people bring new energy to a centuries-old Afro Puerto Rican music and dance tradition. Bomba starts from within. As bomberos, we feel a deep connection to our souls. We express our inner light by uniting drumming with dance. Call and response singing provides support for the main drummer and dancer, and it welcomes audience members to join us. Beyond mere performance, BombaYo creates an interactive celebration. In the spirit of Sankofa, BombaYo members draw from the bomba tradition to enrich their lives, embrace their cultural legacy, and share this gift with others. In a short time, the group had been invited to perform at schools, youth conferences, and Latino Heritage Month events across NYC. Other events include, National Womens Heart Day at Madison Square Garden’s Expo Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music with Dan Zanes, National Museum of History, Easter Bonnet “On Broadway, 2010” at Minskoff Theatre, and Symphony Space. The group has shared their musical talents in the 2010 album DARE TO GO BEYOND with Corbin Bleu and William Cepeda, produced by Revolucion Latina.