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Hispanic Heritage Month: A look at traditional dances from Puerto Rico

International Latin Jazz and Arts Festival happening Oct. 5 at the UTSA Downtown Campus

SAN ANTONIO – Nereida Burgess knows she’s not far from her native island of Puerto Rico when she starts dancing.

“It’s a very joyful moment for me. It’s like I’m feeling that come back home,” she said.

Burgess met up with KSAT reporter Patty Santos to demonstrate two of the main dances from Puerto Rico, which are gaining attention around the world.

“It’s a joyful way to express ourselves and our bodies,” she said.

First, there’s the Plena, a form of communication and storytelling. Burgess compares it to the Mexican corridos.

“The Plena is more for the countryside. ... They would call it before, like, ‘the singing newspaper.’ It’s like telling what was happening and the events that were happening in the island,” she said.

There’s also the Bomba, a more complex dance. Burgess said it has its roots in slavery and was used by enslaved people to communicate with other tribes. In this type of dance, the dancer leads, and the drummers follow the movements.

“It’s like a conversation, a musical conversation,” she said.

The Puerto Rican Heritage Society is hosting a Plena & Bomba Workshop during the International Latin Jazz and Arts Festival on Oct. 5 at the UTSA Downtown Campus. The event is free for families to attend.

You can click here to see the full list of events and times for the festival.

Find more Hispanic Heritage Month stories

Nereida Burgess dances the plena & bomba, traditional dances from her native country of Puerto Rico. (Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved.)

About the Authors
Patty Santos headshot

Patty Santos joined the KSAT 12 News team in July 2017. She has a proven track record of reporting on hard-hitting news that affects the community.

Alex Gamez headshot

Alex Gamez is a photojournalist at KSAT.