{"title":"Collaborators and Teaching Artists","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e We have a team of educators, artists, therapists, and tradition bearers committed to cultural and pedagogical excellence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003cb\u003eConsultants and Collaborators:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e Jeanitza Aviles Calderon, Victor Velez Flores, Ray Lopez Adorno, Jannira Roman Laguer, Nelie Lebron Robles, Dr. Emanuel Dufrasne Gonzalez, Alberto Galarza Ramos, Marcos Penaloza Pica, Victor Emmanuelli Nater, Hector Cruz, Felipe Febres Rivera, Maria Teresa Martinez, Vilma Sastre Martinez, Angel Luis Reyes Romero and Ramon Gomez.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"erick-martinez-lopez","title":"Erick Martínez López","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eErick Martínez López is an educator with more than 25 years of experience in physical education, community recreation, and health promotion. With a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from the University of Turabo and graduate studies in Health Promotion, he has served as a teacher for the Puerto Rico Department of Education and as a recreational leader in several municipalities. His philosophy integrates movement, art, and culture—including dance, folkloric games, bomba, and plena—to promote holistic well-being and cultural preservation. Throughout his career, he has developed initiatives that unite health, art, and community, establishing himself as an inspiring leader in Puerto Rican education and culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46745159172353,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2025-09-17at18.33.34.jpg?v=1758151065"},{"product_id":"felipe-junito-febres-rivera-jr","title":"Hector Christian Giovanni Cruz","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHéctor Christian Giovanni Cruz, born in Mayagüez in 2001, is a singer, composer, player, and dancer of Bomba, an art form that runs in his blood as part of his family legacy. The grandson of María Christina Alfonso Mangual (Cristy) and great-grandson of \"Aristalco el Cubano,\" he began his career alongside his grandmother in the group Yagüembé. Today, he is a member of groups such as Bambula Litoral and Bomba Abúlé, and has collaborated with El Cuarteto, standing out for his elegance and respect for the regional style of Mayagüez. He has participated in cultural gatherings such as the Encuentro de Tambores (Drum Gathering) and is currently a member and consultant for SanArte Cultura, actively contributing to the preservation and education of this tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46745160319233,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2025-09-17at18.36.51.jpg?v=1758151584"},{"product_id":"felipe-junito-febres-rivera-jr-1","title":"Felipe “Junito” Febres Rivera Jr.","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eFelipe “Junito” Febres Rivera Jr. is a Bomba exponent with over 38 years of cultural experience as a dancer, plena percussionist, instructor, actor, and educator. Since his beginnings in the Cepeda Family at age 14, he has dedicated his life to preserving and expanding Puerto Rican tradition, participating in groups such as Hermanos Cepeda, Taller Tamboricua, and Son del Batey, and performing on international stages such as New York, Paris, Ecuador, and Cuba. He has collaborated with artists such as Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, and Juan Luis Guerra, in addition to theater projects and special productions. His commitment to teaching has led him to lead workshops at various institutions, establishing himself as a cultural leader and ambassador of Bomba and plena in Puerto Rico and around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46745166708993,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2026-02-03at21.00.45_d687fedb-3b58-4211-99d4-ab79d6c64998.jpg?v=1770169449"},{"product_id":"victor-javier-vitito-emmanuelli-nater","title":"Víctor Javier “Vitito” Emmanuelli Náter","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eVíctor Javier “Vitito” Emmanuelli Náter, a consultant for SanArte Cultura and a facilitator representing the Cangrejos Region at the Roundtable, is a renowned percussionist, dancer, educator, and researcher of Puerto Rican Bomba with over 40 years of experience. His training began as a child under the influence of the Cepeda family, and he later discovered his own cultural lineage as the great-grandson of Sergio Náter, a Bomba player and teacher of Rafael Cepeda. He has been a member of iconic groups such as Raíces Eternas, Los Hermanos Cepeda, and Paracumbé, and co-founded Bombazo de Puerto Rico. He has also created projects such as Bomba Evolución, Plena Evolución, and Rebelión Jazz. Recognized for his contributions to barrel making techniques and aesthetics and for his innovative vision, \"Vitito\" maintains that all evolution stems from a deep respect for and understanding of tradition, inspiring new generations and establishing himself as one of the pillars of Afro-Puerto Rican music and culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46745167560961,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2025-09-17at18.38.58.jpg?v=1758152716"},{"product_id":"marcos-a-penaloza-pica","title":"Marcos A. Peñaloza Pica","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e Marcos A. Peñaloza Pica, a consultant for SanArte Cultura and a facilitator representing the Loíza region at the Roundtable, is a folk musician, artisan, singer, musician, dancer, and composer with over 45 years of experience in Puerto Rican Bomba music. The grandson of the Cepeda family and a native of Loíza, he has composed over 50 pieces registered with ASCAP and has been a member of groups such as Los Hermanos Ayala, Ballet Folclórico Raíces, and Los Pleneros de Mi Barrio. Founder and director of the Compañía Folclórica de Loíza and the Majestad Negra International Folklore Ballet, he has brought Loíza music to stages in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. A renowned educator and tradition-lover, he offers bomba workshops, mask-making, and lectures on Loíza's ancestry and customs, consolidating his role as a cultural leader and ambassador of Loíza's folklore worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46745169461505,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2025-09-17at18.39.50.jpg?v=1758152966"},{"product_id":"alberto-galarza-ramos","title":"Alberto Galarza Ramos","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eAlberto Galarza Ramos, a consultant for SanArte Cultura and facilitator who will represent the Mayagüez region at the Roundtable, was born in 1954 in the city of Mayagüez. Although he grew up surrounded by plena, salsa, and bomba, it wasn't until 2000 that he formally joined the Puerto Rican bomba, training with Maestro Félix Alduén and later with the Yaguembé Ballet. He is currently a member of La Raíz de Mayagüez, Bomba Boricua, and Mayagüez. He has represented the Mayagüez tradition on international stages such as Africa, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, New Orleans, and New York. Concerned about the bomba's limited visibility in his region, he has researched its roots and evolution alongside other experts, making invaluable contributions to the preservation and documentation of this cultural legacy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46745169658113,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2025-09-17at18.40.26.jpg?v=1758153034"},{"product_id":"dr-j-emanuel-dufrasne-gonzalez","title":"Dr. J. Emanuel Dufrasne González","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eDr. J. Emanuel Dufrasne González, a consultant for SanArte Cultura and facilitator who will represent the Southern Region at the Roundtable, is an ethnomusicologist, trombonist, composer, and educator born in Ponce in 1955. Founder and director of Paracumbé since 1979, he has dedicated his career to the preservation and dissemination of bomba and plena as essential Afro-Puerto Rican expressions. With a BA in Music Education (UPR) and an MA\/Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology (UCLA), he has been a professor at the UPR since 1988, where he has researched and taught about Afro-Caribbean musical traditions. He has given concerts and workshops in the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe, in addition to publishing albums and books such as \u003cem data-start=\"807\" data-end=\"843\"\u003ePuerto Rico also has... tambó!\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-start=\"846\" data-end=\"870\"\u003ePuerto Rico and its plena\u003c\/em\u003e . His academic, artistic, and community work consolidates him as a key figure in the revaluation of African musical roots in Puerto Rico.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46745170280705,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsApp_Image_2025-09-17_at_18.41.03.jpg?v=1758153111"},{"product_id":"nelie-lebron-robles","title":"Nelie Lebrón Robles","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eNelie Lebrón Robles, a consultant for SanArte Cultura and a facilitator representing the Southern Region at the Roundtable, is a singer, bassist, and educator from Guayama. With a distinguished career spanning more than four decades, she was a professor and director of the Music Education Department at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and National Teacher of the Year in 1994. As the principal voice of the Paracumbé ensemble since 1981, she has brought bomba and plena to stages in Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and the United States, collaborating with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, the New York Orchestra, and internationally renowned artists. An educator, researcher, and advocate for children's rights, equity, and social justice, her legacy combines artistic excellence, academic commitment, and community service.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46745170804993,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2025-09-17at18.41.29.jpg?v=1758153172"},{"product_id":"raymond-lopez-adorno","title":"Raymond López Adorno","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eRaymond López Adorno, a consultant for SanArte Cultura, is a combat veteran, educator, and psychologist in training, as well as a passionate Bomba dancer. He holds degrees in Radiological Sciences, History and Philosophy of Religion, Hebrew Scriptures, and Psychology, including a certification in Cognitive Neuroscience and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He has served as an officer in the U.S. Army, teacher, and university professor, and today integrates his cultural, spiritual, and therapeutic vision into pioneering projects investigating how Bomba can help reduce PTSD symptoms in veterans. He has danced with groups such as Son del Batey, Bomba Evolución, and La BombaVa, fusing tradition, mindfulness, and psychotherapy as tools for holistic healing. His work reflects a life mission: to honor Afro-Puerto Rican roots as a source of resilience, belonging, and liberation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46745178374401,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2025-09-17at18.43.51.jpg?v=1758153824"},{"product_id":"maria-teresa-martinez-rodriguez","title":"Maria Teresa Martinez Rodriguez","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eMaría Teresa “Maritere” Martínez Rodríguez, a consultant and facilitator of dance workshops at SanArte Cultura, has dedicated her life to the preservation of the Puerto Rican Bomba. Her journey began in the group Calabó and since then she has been part of emblematic groups such as Majestad Negra, Hijos de Agüeybaná, Ausuba, Plena Libre, and Ballet Folklórico Hermanos Ayala, standing out as a powerful cuás player and a pioneer in women-led projects. She has taken her art to local and international stages, collaborated with artists such as Tego Calderón, and participated in productions by Banco Popular. She has also promoted community and educational projects such as \u003cem data-start=\"816\" data-end=\"841\"\u003eLa Cultura También Cura\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-start=\"844\" data-end=\"864\"\u003eSemilla de Cultura\u003c\/em\u003e , in addition to representing Loíza at Encuentros de Tambores. Her legacy, marked by resilience and passion, consolidates her as the root and living drum of our culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46745182601473,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsApp_Image_2026-02-03_at_21.13.30.jpg?v=1770169401"},{"product_id":"angel-balance-reyes","title":"Angel \"Balance\" Reyes","description":"\u003cp\u003e SanArte Cultura warmly welcomes Ángel “Balance” Reyes as part of our team of consultants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eÁngel “Balance” Reyes is 77 years old and was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. Ángel began his career in percussion, playing drums, congas, and timbales. He joined the pioneering Bomba Teatro Otra Cosa group under the direction of Félix Romero. He quickly discovered his love for Bomba and his talent as a dancer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e Ángel has danced with some of the most important and representative groups of the different Bomba styles in Puerto Rico: the Cepeda family, Los Hermanos Ayala, and Paracumbé. He also participated in artistic tours with the renowned William Cepeda and his AfroBoricua group, sharing the stage with prominent figures such as Félix Alduén and Ángel Luis Torruellas, among others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e He has performed in the United States, Mexico, South America, and Europe. His elegant style as a dancer has led him to participate in numerous Bomba documentaries and videos, including “Raíces” by Banco Popular of Puerto Rico.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eHe has taught the art of Bomba dance to numerous individuals and groups. His greatest contribution as a Bomba teacher has been his work with children and young people with Down syndrome in Puerto Rico.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46830257012993,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2025-10-17at20.11.24.jpg?v=1760746324"},{"product_id":"vilma-sastre-martinez","title":"Vilma Sastre Martínez","description":"\u003cp\u003e We continue to grow and strengthen our SanArte Cultura family, integrating valuable elders and professionals who bring wisdom, experience, and heart to our consulting team. We warmly welcome Vilma Sastre, a wonderful addition to this path of culture, healing, and community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e Vilma Sastre Martínez, a Puerto Rican, was born on September 30, 1965, in the Puerta de Tierra housing project. She is the daughter of Milagros Martínez Cruz and José Manuel Sastre Cintrón. At age 11, she moved to Villa Palmeras, formerly known as San Mateo de Cangrejos, and later settled in Carolina, where she still resides.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eFrom a young age, she demonstrated a deep commitment to service and the community. She studied Emergency Medical Technician and Rescue at the CEM (Center for Emergency Medical Services), serving for ten years in the San Juan and Bayamón areas. She later completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University College of San Juan, where she distinguished herself as an intensive care and emergency room nurse for over twenty years. She also worked as a dialysis nurse for one year and as a nursing instructor for five years, contributing to the training of new healthcare professionals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eAt age 11, she met the Cepeda family, with whom she developed a deep cultural and artistic connection. She became part of the family and later married Orlando Cepeda Brenes, with whom she had a son, Orlando Rafael Cepeda Sastre. Her career in Puerto Rican dance and culture has been extensive and significant: she was a member of the Ballet Folclórico for many years and collaborated in numerous Bomba workshops at institutions such as the Arthur Murray Dance Studio, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, the Naranjito Folkloric Group, and pioneering projects like Bombazo de Puerto Rico, Bomba Evolución, Son del Batey, Yubá Iré, and Los Reguladores de San Juan with Jerry Ferrao.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eShe has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Los Pleneros de Severo and has represented Puerto Rico alongside the Cepeda family in the Virgin Islands and Chicago, in addition to performing at numerous town squares and festivals throughout the island. Currently, she continues to share her knowledge by offering Bomba workshops at her home in Carolina.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e His commitment to culture has been recognized by various entities, including the Cicre Group of the Emanueli and Maríen Torres López brothers, as well as the Tambuyé Workshop at the Vivo Beach Club.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e Vilma Sastre Martínez represents a life dedicated to health, teaching, and the preservation of Afro-Puerto Rican heritage, merging her passion for nursing, culture, and service to the Puerto Rican community.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46830258192641,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2026-02-03at21.00.45_1_fe16fe96-fcac-4c29-b666-cde7bf20b019.jpg?v=1770169338"},{"product_id":"ramon-m-gomez-aponte","title":"Ramón M. Gómez-Aponte","description":"\u003cp\u003e In 1992, Ramón had his first encounter with Bomba at a performance by Cimiento Puertorriqueño. The following year, he began studying with Modesto Cepeda, who invited him to join Cimiento. Around that same time, he befriended several musicians who were the originators of the Bomba dances held on marquees. Ramón referred to these individuals as the “Generation of '93” because they were the ones who sparked a cultural revolution that continues to impact Puerto Rican music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eIn 1995, he joined Paracumbé and helped during the recording and release of the album \"Tambó.\" By 1998, he was collaborating with Bombazo de Puerto Rico, led by the Emmanuelli brothers. That same year, he designed the first prototype of \"La Máquina\"—a drum set featuring Puerto Rican drums. In 2001, in collaboration with filmmaker Paloma Suau, he presented a proposal for a Bomba documentary to Banco Popular. This project evolved into the Christmas special \"Raíces.\" Also in 2001, Ramón worked on restoring the recording of southern Bomba music, \"Bomba Vieja,\" from the General Archive. In 2002, he founded Sambumbia, a Bomba quartet comprised of Coco Barés, Edwin Paris, and Víctor Emmanuelli.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eIn 2003, he made two field recordings with Don Félix Alduén's group, which included Iván Dávila and Juan Nadal. That same year, he participated in an industrial design exhibition where the second prototype of La Máquina was presented. In 2004, he decided to retire from performing to formally study arrangement and composition. Since 2015, he has been studying music engineering and production and completed the third prototype of La Máquina. More recently, he has collaborated on several musical projects at Casa de la Plena in La Goyco.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47639077519617,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsApp_Image_2026-02-03_at_05.40.57.jpg?v=1770169306"},{"product_id":"christian-galarza-boyrie","title":"Christian Galarza Boyrie","description":"\u003cp\u003eChristian A. Galarza Boyrié was born on May 29, 1992, in the city of Mayagüez. He was raised in the Ramírez de Arellano housing complex by his parents, Alberto Galarza Ramos and Carmen Boyrié Mangual, along with his two brothers and sister. From a very young age, he developed a love for music, and at the age of eight, he began his journey with bomba. Bomba dancing was the first thing he learned, but he was always drawn to the drum. Christian developed as a drummer thanks to the influence of his parents, who instilled in him a love for the culture from childhood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eAs a child, he enjoyed many wonderful experiences all over the island, visiting places like Mayagüez, Ponce, Santurce, and Loíza, among others. Among the great influences on Mayagüez bomba, he had as important teachers his father, Alberto Galarza, Félix Alduen, Ramón 'Papo' Alers, Liz Saira Díaz, María Cristina Alfonso Mangual, Marcos Peñaloza Picá, and Juan Nadal, whom he considers one of his most influential mentors. He studied at the Escuela Libre de Música (Free School of Music), was a percussion teacher at the Mayagüez Bomba School, and worked for several years on cultural initiatives, bringing bomba to the public housing projects in Mayagüez.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n \u003cp\u003eHe holds a master's degree in music education, which he uses today as a musician, teacher, and cultural advocate, collaborating with various groups such as La Raíz Bomba Mayagüezana (co-director), El Cuarteto De Bomba (co-director), Boricua Soy, Boricua y de Mayagüez, Los Tambores de Félix Alduen, Afrolegado, Majestad Negra, Desde Cero, Alma Moyo, among other musical groups throughout the island and outside of Puerto Rico. He has also participated in the musical production of projects such as El Cuarteto, Sacao del Horno, and Boricua y de Mayagüez, among others.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Arte ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47639078142209,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0774\/5096\/9345\/files\/WhatsAppImage2026-01-31at22.03.00.jpg?v=1769960422"}],"url":"https:\/\/sanartecultura.com\/en\/collections\/consultores.oembed?page=2","provider":"San Arte ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}