Although Bad Bunny sings that to truly have fun “with charm and grace” you need to spend “a summer in New York” (“NUEVAYoL”), Teatro Esperanza will show that fun is also possible in the spring—without ever leaving El Barrio.
Esperanza Arts Center will host the San Sebastián Street Festival (“SanSe Philadelphia”) at Teatro Esperanza on May 30.
Co-presented with the American Composers Forum, the event will bring the spirit of Old San Juan’s iconic street festival to Philadelphia, featuring Bomba and Plena music—genres known in the early 20th century as the “singing newspaper” for their role in telling community stories through melody and percussion.
This celebration of Puerto Rican culture will feature Tony Méndez and Los Bomberos de la Calle in a world premiere inspired by the San Sebastián Street Festival held in the historic district of Puerto Rico’s capital, the Island of Enchantment.
Puerto Rican native Anthony E. Méndez, known as “Mr. Tony,” is an expert in Puerto Rican folk music, as well as an educator and cultural leader based in Philadelphia. As director and percussionist of Los Bomberos de la Calle, he works to preserve and promote Bomba and Plena, using rhythm and dance to tell the story and legacy of Afro-Puerto Rican culture. This music traces back to the 17th century and connects with African and Taíno Indigenous roots of the Caribbean.
Los Bomberos de la Calle was founded in 2012 by Tony as a cultural group dedicated to preserving, performing, and sharing the traditions of Bomba and Plena. Over the years, it has become a cultural pillar for the Puerto Rican community in North Philadelphia.
In 2024, the group’s leader founded the PhillyBombaPlena Cultural Center as a community and musical gathering space in the Kensington area. There, community members of all ages learn music, dance, and Afro-Puerto Rican history through workshops, events, and community gatherings.
For “Mr. Tony,” Bomba represents both emotional release and storytelling. Its rhythms are closely tied to the movements of the dancers, who express their emotions through each step, while the drummers respond in kind.
“When you dance Bomba, you’re letting it all out. And the drummer feels what you feel. It’s like a conversation through sound,” says the musician, who was awarded the 2024 Philadelphia Cultural Treasures Artist Fellowship and is the 2025/2026 Artist-in-Residence at Esperanza Arts Center.
This performance at Teatro Esperanza (“SanSe Philadelphia”) is part of that residency and the Recomposing America project. It is also included in the VOCES series, which highlights Latin American and Caribbean traditions in an effort to reimagine the cultural stories of the United States as it approaches its 250th anniversary.
The presentation will be interactive—so get ready to join the celebration! Immerse yourself in the rhythm and history of Puerto Rican culture through music that brings together young and old alike.
Get your tickets at:
https://www.esperanzaartscenter.us/event/festival-de-la-calle-de-san-sebastian-en-filadelfia-v/