Harlem, New York – The Pleneros of the 21 are synonymous with the Bomba and Plena tradition of Puerto Rican culture in Harlem. More than dance and music, the youth who are part of the Pleneros community classes learn to appreciate the history and significance of the Bomba and Plena.
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The history of the Pleneros de la 21
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The group established by Juan Gutierrez in 1983’s central mission is to expose and motivate the participation of urban youth and other people in the cultural heritage of Puerto Rico.
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“When we talk about the bomb We speak of the presence of the inheritance, I would say African, of the inheritance that we receive, of those who were brought by force of living to this hemisphere, from the Americas. I mean slavery and that’s where it comes from. From that presence come all these traditions, a tradition that goes far beyond what a musical tradition is and what an instrument represents … tradition, of perseverance, of the combative spirit, of the spirit of transcending. And that’s how it has transpired ”Gutiérrez explained to us.
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Gutierrez’s conviction is felt in his voice when he explains that it is a “greater responsibility to open ourselves up to teach other generations … here we are with community workshops that are already more than thirty years old.”
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And that love that the Pleneros transmit to their students is returned to them.
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Mateo Gonzáles is one of the group’s teachers and has been with the Pleneros for 26 years. He started in the workshops as a student at 6 years old and now has 10 years as a teacher.
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He talks about the group as if it were his family. He says “now I want to give back everything that all of my teachers told me about. [enseñaron] now to teach these children ”.
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Welcome to the Piece of Puerto Rico in Harlem
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When you walk through the doors of the studio in the Julia de Burgos cultural center you will feel transported and inspired to see young children enjoying the Puerto Rican traditions.
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Young children dance accompanied by their parents while learning the basic movements of the dances. Together with the hands of their parents and guardians they learn how to identify the rhythm of the drum.
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At the end of the first round of the little ones, the older children begin to enter. Here you can see the difference in which teachers speak to their students.
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At the beginning of class they ask him what the rhythms they had learned in the previous class are called and they review them. They make sure to bring the practice skirts to simulate the waves of the Caribbean.
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When the dance class is over, the drum class begins.
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The excitement in the room is palpable as the children cheerfully grab their drums and sit in a circle together to play. The class teacher, Jorge, assigns someone to the lead drummer and together they breathe new life to the old rhythms.
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Together they play, dance and compete to see which of the students can last the longest playing without making a mistake.
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And if it wasn’t enough to see the joy on their faces to convince you that the boys adore the class, one of the girls, Nilaja O. Robles-Alejandro told us “my culture is, I don’t know, I feel that my culture is unique and different and really I like to celebrate my culture ”.
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The community workshops of the Plenary of the 21 are every Saturday from 10:15 AM to 2:00 PM and meet in the Julia Burgos Cultural Center located at Lexington Avenue and 106th Street.
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