Bomba Marilé, an ensemble dedicated to sharing Afro Puerto Rican musical and dance traditions, performed at the 18th Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The performance was part of a three-day multicultural celebration held at the Utah State Fairpark, which featured 40 local performing groups across multiple stages.
Festival Stage Highlights
The performance by Bomba Marilé was scheduled for the 90.9 FM KRCL Main Stage during the festival's Saturday lineup. This stage hosted a diverse array of performers including the Utah Irish Dance Company, BollyPop Utah, Halau Ku Pono I Kamalani, Community Building Services, Grupo Aztlan SLC, Mariachi Fuego, Allegiant Dance Crew, Susie Brown, Diana Lone, and Shecock.
Craft Lake City DIY Festival Overview
The 18th Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival, presented by Harmons, took place from August 7 through August 9, 2026. According to Craft Lake City, the festival utilized three distinct stages: the 90.9 FM KRCL Main Stage, the Gallery of Hyper Fine Art (GOFHA) Stage Presented By KUAA, and the SLC Synth Alliance Stage. Executive Director Angela H. Brown stated that the festival provides an opportunity to celebrate and support the talented performers that contribute to Utah's creative community.
Bomba Marilé History and Mission
Bomba Marilé was established in November 2017 to bring Afro Puerto Rican traditions to the Utah community. The group has historically organized various cultural activities, including workshops with visiting instructors, social events such as picnics and dominoes, and educational screenings of documentaries regarding Puerto Rican issues. The group has performed at several Utah cultural events, including the Living Traditions Festival, the West Side Dance Cinco de Mayo Festival, Mondays at the Park, and the Utah County Fair.
Leadership of Bomba Marilé
The organization is led by a Board of Directors that includes founding members Miriam Padilla Vargas and Isaias Alavez Martinez. Vargas, originally from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, is an endocrinologist specializing in diabetes and obesity. She has a background in multiple dance styles, including salsa, bachata, polynesian, bollywood, and ballroom, and has served on the boards of KRCL, PANDOS, and the Latino Diabetes Association.
Founding Leadership and Goals
Co-founder Isaias Alavez Martinez has traveled to Puerto Rico and Cuba to study drumming and dance. Martinez, who has also been a salsa dancer in various groups, noted the importance of providing a space for the community to share music, singing, and dancing to help preserve cultures for future generations.
Board of Directors Contributions
Other members of the board include Rafael Maya and Nicole Wines. Maya, an artist from the Caribbean, is also the director of the Puerto Rican Bomba group Desde Cero and is currently working on a solo album and a new production for Desde Cero. Wines is a co-founder of the Raíces Cultural Center in Central New Jersey and serves as a board member for Bomba Marilé, bringing experience as a performing and teaching artist, community historian, and arts administrator.
Artistic Expertise and Experience
Jeanitza Avilés Calderón, a board member, holds a Master's degree in Fine Arts Education with a specialty in dance. She has 28 years of experience in the Department of Education across elementary, intermediate, and higher levels. Calderón began dancing bomba and plena at age 8 and has collaborated with numerous groups, including Agüeybaná, Paracumbe, and Tamboricua. Her dance career has taken her to international locations including Italy, France, Mexico, and Venezuela.
