IAEM kicked off Puerto Rico week at the Seventh Meeting of Knowledge, Sounds and Flavors
MINCULTURA Photos
Published at: 26/03/2026 11:25 AM
Under the motto “I am Caribbean, from the land
where the sun rises”, the Institute of Performing and Musical Arts (IAEM)
began a week of workshops and talks that celebrate the
cultural heritage dedicated to Puerto Rico in the “7th. Meeting of Knowledge, Sounds and
Flavors”.
According to information from the Ministry for
Culture, the day began with a presentation by Professor Carlos García,
entitled: “Puerto Rico, the bomb, the plenum and the peasant music”.
During his speech, García emphasized the
importance of protecting the musical memory of the also known Isla del Encanto. In addition, he indicated
that participating in representation of music made in Puerto Rico is a
privilege.
“It's an honor to talk about that
important historical legacy, the number of genres. This time, jíbara,
peasant music, the bomb and the plenum as a representation of three important genres
in history,” he said.
The training also continued with a practical dance
workshop led by stage artist Ronald Guánchez,
who delved into the technical and narrative differences of Puerto Rican genres.
“The bomb is a dynamic dance, in which the dancer and the percussionist or musician follow him; it is a flirtatious dance, it has a game between the participants that is like a challenge posed by the dancer or the dancer to the musician. On the other hand, the plenum is a dance that is done in pairs with figures that are more of an accompaniment; there is physical contact there; on the other hand, not in the bomb,” he explained.
Guánchez emphasized the importance of these training
spaces. “Transferring knowledge from generation
to generation will keep alive musical genres made in the Caribbean,” he said.
The meeting will continue in the coming weeks with editions dedicated to Cuba and Colombia, which reaffirms the commitment of the Ministry of Popular Power for Culture to the dissemination of historical knowledge and Caribbean identity.
MINCULTURA/Mazo News Team