Dance artist Ebony Vazquez and theater artist Jayme Bermudez joined Borinquen Dance Theatre (BDT) to cultivate the leadership skills of Black and Latinx youth in Rochester through training, structure, and cultural education while balancing the demands of academic success with the methods of a disciplined program. Jayme spearheaded projects that emphasized cultural education and literacy, functioning as a cultural strategist to expand awareness about the emancipation of the Black and Latinx diaspora, in collaboration with the City of Rochester. He also led a reimagining of the story of Peter and the Wolf, developing a curriculum to bring the work into local schools. Ebony came in as a dancer and master instructor, while also developing professional skills that helped to bolster Borinquen’s administrative capacity through marketing and registration support. BDT also reached a major milestone of moving into a new and improved space during the collaboration.

Borinquen Dance Theatre works to cultivate high academic expectations through the discipline of dance training, cultural enrichment, work ethic, and leadership development. Our goal is to provide Latin/x and other underrepresented youth with the opportunity to explore and celebrate their cultures through the performing arts.