2024 Stage Garden Rumba

Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024
Time: 2pm to 6pm
Location: Pregones Theater, 575 Walton Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451

Join us for this special Stage Garden Rumba at Pregones Theater hosted by the

Theme: “People’s Voices, Plural Histories – Reclaiming the Stories of the Bronx.”

Dedicated in memory of Elba Cabrera, “La Madrina de las Artes del Bronx”.

EMCEE/HOST

cap is a Latina writer, poet, and educator from The Bronx, NY. Her work explores themes of identity, spirituality, and intricate relationships, using poetry to explore nuanced emotions, overcome trauma, and inspire others to embark on their own healing journeys.

MUSIC

DeLaCeiba is an Hondureño born poet, rapper, DJ, scholar, father, husband, activist who grew up in South Central Los Angeles.

MAZarte Dance Company is an artistic organization that exposes the history and the art of the indigenous artisans of our Mexican culture through dance.

The Mind-Builders Advanced Combo under the direction of Christopher Palmer is an extension of the award-winning Stage Band program at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center. The combo plays a variety of genres mostly centered around funk and jazz.

Alma Moyo Afro-Puerto Rican Music Group was born in 2002 at a lively drum jam session at “La Casita de Chema”, a community garden in the South Bronx. Founded by Alex LaSalle from Moca, Puerto Rico, Alma Moyo is an intergenerational crew of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans who promote the diverse regional drum and vocal styles of Bomba with a Caribbean-blues sentiment.

POETRY

Jesús Papoleto Meléndez also known as “Papo” or “Papoleto” is a New York-born Puerto Rican poet, playwright, teacher, and activist. He is a member of the Nuyorican Movement. He grew up during the Civil Rights Movement, Black Power movement, and the emergence of the Nuyorican Movement in East Harlem. His titles include the play The Junkies Stole the Clock (1974), and Hey Yo/Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry.

Maria Aponte is a Poet/Author/Performance Artist/ Community Arts Activist/Educator. Two-time recipient International Latino Book Award for Transitions of a Nuyorican Cinderella and The Gift of Loss. May 21, 2022, Maria received the Marymount Manhattan College, Mother Raymunde Mckay Award in recognition for distinguished service and outstanding contributions to the community. Maria is the Founder and President of Latina 50 Plus, In January 2024, Maria launched The Bobby Gonzalez Legacy Project to preserve his work for the Taino community and education.

Peggy Robles-Alvarado is a Jerome Hill Foundation Fellow in Literature, a Candela Playwrights fellow, and a Bronx Cultural Visions Grant recipient. She is a fellow of The Dramatic Question Theater and was selected to be part of  The 2023 Playground Experiment’s Faces of America Monologue Festival. Peggy is a BRIO award winner who earned poetry fellowships from CantoMundo, Frost Place, and The Ashbery Home School. This three-time International Latino Book Award winner authored Conversations With My Skin, and Homage To The Warrior Women.  Peggy’s work has been featured in The Solfest Theater Festival, Dodge Poetry Festival, HBO Habla Women, Lincoln Center, and The Smithsonian.  Peggy’s poetry has been highly anthologized and appears in The Breakbeat Poets Vol. 4: LatiNext, among other notable publications.

ACTIVISTS

Sonia González-Martínez is an editor and director who has dedicated herself to working on documentary projects that chronicle the cultural landscape of inner-city life, as well as the important figures whose lives have been at the historical zeitgeist of our community. She is an advocate of media literacy and founded Latinos For Positive

WEATHER UPDATE:

Sadly we will not be holding the Stage Garden Rumba planned for today Saturday September 28 at Hunts Point Riverside Park, due to the rain. Stay tuned and be sure to join us at upcoming events throughout the season!

Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Time: 2pm to 6pm
Location: Hunts Point Riverside Park, 1409 Lafayette Ave, Bronx, NY 10474

The first Stage Garden Rumba of the season brings a new lineup of poets, activists and musicians to our beloved gathering in community open spaces. Hosted by Caridad De La Luz, the multifaceted performer known as “La Bruja” and one of America’s leading spoken word poets– audiences will hear from award-winning Afro-Puerto Rican poet Mariposa Fernandez and Stephanie Pacheco–this year’s National Youth Poet Laureate. Mind Builders Stage Band, rapper Regi Angelou and Afro Puerto Rican Bomba artist Alma Moyo will be on site with musical performances and Honduran born poet/rapper/DJ/DJ DeLaCeiba will provide curated DJ sets.