Los Pleneros de la 21 - Creatives Rebuild New York

A group of smiling individuals, wearing matching blue shirts, gather on a city street, participating in a festive event. One woman in the forefront wears sunglasses and red lipstick, holding a camera for a selfie, while a young girl proudly waves a Puerto Rican flag in the air. Surrounding them are other joyful participants, including young people donning colorful headbands and bandanas.

Los Pleneros de la 21 at the Puerto Rican Day Parade

Photo courtesy of Yesenia Lebron-Romero

A group of children of various ages gather on the steps of a building, each holding a tambourine. The children are diverse, dressed in colorful winter clothing, suggesting it's a festive or holiday event. A man dressed as Santa Claus stands among them, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. The tambourines, one of which features a small flag design, accentuate the theme of music and celebration.

Youth of Los Pleneros de la 21

Photo courtesy of Yesenia Lebron-Romero

A group of four young students sitting in a semicircle, each with a conga drum in front of them, attentively watching an instructor or teacher who is seated and playing a drum. The students include two boys and two girls, dressed casually, with expressions of focus. Behind them, the room contains various items such as musical instruments, boxes, and papers, giving a sense of an informal learning environment.

Bomba y Plena Children’s Workshop

Photo courtesy of Yesenia Lebron-Romero

Five individuals, including three young men in traditional white clothing with colorful scarves, each holding a tambourine-like percussion instrument. They are accompanied by two adults, one in a white shirt and another in a red checkered shirt with a black headscarf, standing on either side.

Photo courtesy of Nelson Mateo Gonzalez

A diverse group of individuals is participating in a dance class held in a spacious room with wooden flooring. The participants, both men and women, are standing in staggered rows facing a wall with large mirrors, which reflect their movements. Each person is engaged in a choreographed dance step, raising one arm and placing the other on their hip. The room has minimal furnishings and is equipped with ceiling lights, while the walls are adorned with traditional hangings and mirrors.

Adult workshop

Photo courtesy of Nelson Mateo Gonzalez

A musician stands at the forefront, dressed in a white shirt, playing a double bass. He is gesturing with his hand, possibly conducting or emphasizing a musical point. Surrounding him are members of an orchestra, with visible sheet music and various instruments such as brass and woodwinds. The setting appears to be a performance space with dim lighting, creating an intimate atmosphere.

CRNY artist Alex Apolo Ayala in concert

Photo by Krystal Pagan

A dynamic scene featuring a woman in a colorful dress swirling gracefully, embodying the spirit of Latin dance. Her vibrant red skirt flows elegantly, capturing movement and energy. In the background, musicians accompany her with traditional instruments, including congas and synthesizers. The setting is indoors, with a warm atmosphere enhanced by natural light filtering through large windows.

CRNY artist LeAna Lopez performing at summer festival

Photo by Eddie Pagan

A man with curly hair and a black headband passionately dances in an outdoor setting. He wears a light blue shirt and displays energetic movements. Behind him, a diverse group of people watches attentively, some capturing the moment with their phones. Subtle lighting focuses on the dancer, creating an intimate and dynamic atmosphere.

CRNY artist Nelson Mateo Gonzalez performing at summer festival

Photo by Tom Ehrlich

The Collaboration

Los Pleneros de la 21 worked in close collaboration with Alex Apolo Ayala, Nelson Mateo González, Yesenia Lebrón-Romero and LeAna López to foster their professional and creative growth while helping to build LP21’s arts education, cultural legacy, and performing and touring initiatives. The artists enriched workshops by developing resources to support student learning and engagement outside of the classroom, while promoting a holistic approach to teaching and preserving Puerto Rican art forms. These relationships helped the students expand their knowledge while celebrating the multiplicity of ways one can practice Afro- Puerto Rican musical traditions. The artists all collaborated to facilitate classes in the series while taking time to work on their craft and evolve as artists. This new approach created space for the organization to explore new strategies for program development and organizational leadership, supporting LP21’s sustainability and reinforcing its artist-led culture for the next generation of cultural leaders.

The Organization

Los Pleneros de la 21 promote cultural celebration, community connection, and accessible arts education through the knowledge and appreciation of Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena music and dance. Founded in 1983, LP21’s landmark cultural arts education and performance programs have served communities for forty years, with an annual roster of accessible programs such as the Bomba and Plena Community Workshops, La Gran Fiesta Navideña, Las Fiestas de Cruz, and El Sancocho Musical.

CRNY strengthened our ability to provide engaging cultural arts programs relevant to the communities we serve, and encouraged new ways for LP21 to foster a collaborative environment for these artists. Ashleigh Hendrix

Being able to engage with other artists through this project accelerated my growth. Collaborations, attending exhibitions, and participating in artist groups provided fresh perspectives and feedback from me and to me. Yesenia Lebron-Romero

Thanks to the CRNY grant, I’ve had two of the most CREATIVE years of my career. The grant allowed me to focus solely on my craft as an arranger, composer and copyist, and the results have been incredible. Alex Apolo Ayala

According to one LP21 workshop parent: "[our children] now seek out Bomba y Plena music, enjoy listening and dancing to it, while instilling a sense of cultural pride and continuing this Puerto Rican musical tradition among the younger generation."

Artists

Alex Apolo Ayala

LeAna López

Nelson Mateo Gonzalez

Yesenia Lebrón-Romero

Location

New York, NY

Communities Served

Immigrant

Seniors

Youth

Links

Instagram

Library of Congress grant

YouTube