El Bombazo de Brooklyn

El Bombazo de Brooklyn is an Afroboricua drum-dance ensemble that focuses primarily on workshops and community events in Brooklyn. The group was originally founded as Los Bomberos de Brooklyn by Halbert Barton & Awilda Sterling-Duprey in 2000. We are host of the Gran Bombazo de Brooklyn, an annual bomba jam celebration in Fort Greene going into its 8th year. We have played in a variety of venues in Brooklyn and the NYC Metro area: Long Island University, Brooklyn College, Metrotech, Marriot Hotel, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, City College, South Beach Psychiatric Center, Raices Senior Center, Old San Juan Cafe, Folk Feet Juneteenth Celebration, as well as dozens of public schools throughout the borough of Kings. We regularly hold open rehearsals and jam sessions throughout the year between Long Island University and Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Fort Greene, near downtown Brooklyn. Illustrious bomberos and bomberas who have gigged with us over the years include: Tito Cepeda, José Emmanuelli, Juan Usera, Alex LaSalle, Tato Torres, Jorge Vazquez, Mikey Molina, Bruni Castro, Raquel Rivera, Sandra Garcia, Aubrey Barbosa, and Manuela Arciniegas. We are supremely grateful for the support of Long Island University, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church and the Brooklyn Arts Council who all co-sponsored our Spring '07 Bombazo program. Thanks to all for helping raise up Brooklyn bomba, loud and strong into the 21st century. Background of clay polymer bombero figurine by Olga Ayala, that's our buddy Jorge Vazquez.