In recent Kensington news, Los Bomberos de la Calle kicked off the new year in a big way, celebrating the grand opening of their new headquarters, the Bomba Plena Cultural Center, on January 5.
The ribbon-cutting event, held at Allegheny Avenue and C Street, coincided with Three Kings Day—a fitting choice for a group dedicated to keeping Puerto Rican music and culture alive in Philadelphia.
Founded in 2013, Los Bomberos de la Calle is dedicated to keeping Puerto Rican musical traditions alive. The new center provides a space for performances, workshops, and community engagement focused on bomba and plena.
Anthony E. Mendez, the founder and director of Los Bomberos de la Calle, has seen the band grow not just in numbers but in purpose. What started as a passion project has evolved into a mission to connect younger generations to their heritage. “Throughout the year, we perform at dozens of schools, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month, to make sure young people know where this music comes from and why it matters,” Mendez explains.
When he moved to Philadelphia from New York at 18, Mendez initially had little interest in the art form. But once he learned its deep history—a legacy rooted in the struggles and resistance of enslaved West Africans in Puerto Rico—he was hooked.
Over the years, he trained with notable mentors, including Maribel Lozada Arzuaga and Familia Rojas, immersing himself in the complex rhythms and traditions of the genre.
For Mendez, bomba is an emotional release—a way to tell stories. The interplay between dancers and drummers is key, with the drumbeats responding to the dancer’s every move. “Bomba allows you to express what you’re feeling in the moment. The drummer picks up on it and gives it back to you. It’s a conversation without words,” he says.
Other band members share Mendez’s deep connection to the music. Vocalist Jonathan Santiago, who grew up in Humacao, Puerto Rico, was first introduced to Los Bomberos de la Calle by his wife, a teacher who invited the group to perform a parranda in her classroom. For Santiago, bomba and plena were always present in his life. “My father always had me involved in music. Even though bomba and plena weren’t everywhere, I would hear them in the streets, and I was instantly drawn to them,” he recalls.
Juliselle Burgos, a dancer and teaching artist, is another example of Bomba’s transformative power. Initially mistaking a bomba class for a salsa lesson at age 11, she quickly found an emotional refuge in the music.
Now a teacher, she guides young students through the same journey of self-expression and confidence-building. “I’ve seen kids walk in hesitant and unsure of themselves, and by the end of the year, they’re fully engaged, dancing with confidence,” Burgos says.
Mendez’s children have also played a significant role in the band’s evolution. Izabella, Sean, and Izaiah have been involved in music since childhood.
“When I said my kids would perform with us, people doubted me. But I told them to wait and see. Now, they can take the stage on their own if needed,” Mendez says proudly.Mendez’s vision extends beyond music, incorporating Puerto Rican cultural elements like traditional baked goods and handcrafted merchandise, making the center a hub for cultural exchange. “I wanted a space that felt like home, where people could come together and celebrate our heritage,” he says.
