Given the fact that some of our fellow citizens don’t even know that Puerto Rico is part of the United States, the timing couldn’t be better for a crash course in the history of that island—particularly one that’s set to an irresistible beat.
Enter Zafra: A Tribute to Afro-Puerto Rican Heritage, a musical showcase of the island’s culture and history that will feature the vibrant musical genres of bomba and plena and explore the impact of the African slave trade in the commonwealth.
This love letter to resilience will be presented, appropriately enough, on Valentine’s Day. The one-time-only performance will tell the story of a people who persevered through slavery and lived to celebrate the indomitable vitality of their transplanted culture.
As performed by Escuela de Bomba y Plena Tata Cepeda, a nonprofit dance school based in Kissimmee, Zafra will feature a cast of more than 40 musicians and dancers—from accomplished professionals to student performers. In the background, multimedia projections will lend an added layer of visual interest to the colorful costuming and expressive motion.
This production can trace its roots to the work of the venerable Cepeda family, which has preserved the Afro-Puerto Rican experience through story and song for eight generations. Barbara Liz Cepeda, executive director of the Kissimmee school, is a direct descendant of that family, and furthering their mission is a task she doesn’t take lightly.
“Being a cultural ambassador is not only an honor, but a responsibility,” she says. “This production honors our ancestors, uplifts our community and reminds the world that Afro-Puerto Rican traditions are alive, evolving and essential to the story of Puerto Rico.”
And as Cepeda sees it, the moment for that message Is most decidedly now: “At a time when the arts are being defunded and politicized, Zafra stands as an act of love, resistance and cultural preservation.”
Dr. Phillips Center is located at 445 South Magnolia Avenue, Orlando. For more information, call or visit the website.
