South Bronx Culture Festival 2025:
Play it Forward
South Bronx Culture Festival 2025: Play it Forward
May 30-June 1, 2025
Come Play With Us
Headliners:
BronX BandA featuring Arturo O’Farrill
Eddie Palmieri & La Perfecta II
Since 2011, Casita Maria’s South Bronx Culture Festival (SBCF) has celebrated the vibrant cultures and communities of the South Bronx through an annual performance series anchored by a new theme each year. Our 2025 theme Play it Forward amplifies the act of creative play in the arts resulting in joy, celebration and inspiration for the next generation of artists. The Festival line-up includes music, art and dance forms from homegrown hip hop and Latin Jazz to the diasporas of Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Headliners include Eddie Palmieri & La Perfecta II, Nelson González All Star Band and Casita Maria’s Latin jazz ensemble, Bronx Banda featuring Arturo O’Farrill. Additional artists include Alí Bello & The Charanga Syndicate, Bombazo Dance Company, Bronx Community Collage, Full Circle Souljahs, GrandWizzard Theodore, Jenn Jade & “JADE 8!”, Laluda Club, National Double Dutch League, Sofía Rei, Uptown Vinyl Supreme, Villalobos Brothers and the Young Artists of Casita Maria. Co-hosts Rhina Valentin and Jonathan Calixto will weave the weekend together with playful banter and storytelling.
SBCF 2025, the only event of its kind in Hunts Point / Longwood, will showcase the work that we do throughout the year, teaching and inspiring young artists, documenting the history of the Bronx through music and dance, and maintaining partnerships with local artists and organizations as we enrich and elevate our beloved community. Presented free to the public, the 3-day SBCF includes outdoor music and dance performances and art activities from May 30 to June 1, 2025 at Father Gigante Plaza in front of St. Athanasius Church at 878 Tiffany Street in the South Bronx. Everyone is welcome to attend the Festival in person, or to watch at a later date via our media partner BronxNet Television. Last year’s SBCF 2024 drew an enthusiastic audience of 5,000 residents.
Additional partnering organizations will create even more joy and activities for the community:
Hunts Point Community Partnership and
The POINT CDC will both table and lead art activities;
Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts (PRIDA) will present a collective of artisan vendors; Casita Maria’s own Teaching Artist,
Maria Luisa Portuondo Vila will lead a hands-on art activity;
Bronx Community Collage will lead a collective collage making activity; and the
New York Public Library will park their bookmobile near the stage.
SoulBites will be returning as the food vendor for the weekend.
This SBCF would not be possible without the support and generosity of partners including
SEBCO Inc., who allows us to use Father Gigante Plaza for free. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council and Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. Additional support is provided by the
Howard Gilman Foundation,
Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the
WMG BFF Social Justice Fund.
This event is part of Carnegie Hall's
Nuestros sonidos festival.
Performance Schedule
South Bronx Culture Festival 2025: Play It Forward
May 30-June 1, 2025 (Friday: 3-7pm / Saturday: 12-7pm / Sunday: 1pm-6pm)
Location: Father Gigante Plaza, in front of St. Athanasius Church, 878 Tiffany Street, Bronx, NY 10459
Festival Co-Hosts: Rhina Valentin & Jonathan Calixto
Friday, May 30
All Day PRIDA (Artisan Vendors) / Soul Bites (Food Vendor) / Hunts Point Community Partnership (Art Activity) / Face Painting / Bubbles & Balloons
3-6pm Bronx Community Collage (Collage Jam)
3-5:30 PM GrandWizzard Theodore (DJ)
3:30-4 PM National Double Dutch League
4-4:30 PM Full Circle Souljahs Top 8 All Styles Battle (Street & Club Dance)
4:30-5:15 PM Young Artists of Casita Maria
5:15-5:25 PM Full Circle Souljahs Popping Demo
5:30-7 PM Bronx Banda featuring Arturo O'Farrill + Special Guests (Latin Jazz)
Saturday, May 31
All Day Casita Maria Teaching Artist Maria P. Vila, Hunts Point Community Partnership and The POINT CDC (Art Activities) / PRIDA (Artisan Vendors) / Soul Bites (Food Vendor)
12-4 PM New York Public Library (Bookmobile)
12-12:30 / 1:45-2:30 / 3:15-4 / 4:45-5:30 PM Uptown Vinyl Supreme (DJ Collective)
12:30-1 PM Bombazo Dance Co. (Bomba)
1-1:45 PM Sofía Rei (Latin America Folklore Meets Electronic Sounds)
2:30-3:15 PM Alí Bello & The Charanga Syndicate (Charanga Moderna - Jazz Latino)
4pm-4:45 PM Villalobos Brothers (Contemporary Mexican)
5:30-7 PM Nelson Gonzalez All Star Band (Tropical Music)
Sunday, June 1
All Day Casita Maria Teaching Artist Maria P. Vila, Hunts Point Community Partnership (Art Activities) / PRIDA (Artisan Vendors) / Soul Bites (Food Vendor)
1-1:45 PM
Jenn Jade & “JADE 8!”
(World Urban Neo-Jazz)
1:45-2:30 / 3:30-4:30 PM Uptown Vinyl Supreme (DJ Collective)
2:30-3:30 PM Lulada Club (Salsa)
4:30-6 PM Eddie Palmieri & La Perfecta II
About the Artists
Festival Hosts
Rhina Valentin is a dynamic host and influential figure in New York City's entertainment landscape. As an Afro Boricua native New Yorker, she seamlessly combines her roles as a mother, comedienne, and producer to connect with audiences through humor and authenticity. Rhina is the founder and CEO of La Reina Del Barrio Inc., where she produces and promotes arts and culture. As the host of the popular
OPEN Friday talk show on BronxNet TV since 2006, she has showcased her engaging style, making her a beloved presence in the community. Since 2018, Rhina has also served as a production consultant and host for the South Bronx Culture Festival at Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education, highlighting the richness of Bronx culture. Recognized with multiple awards, including the
NYC Celebrates Women Award in 2024, Rhina remains dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, and mental health awareness through her work and advocacy.
rhinavalentin.com
IG, FB and Linked In @rhinavalentin
Jonathan Calixto is a multimedia journalist, creator, and host with roots in the Bronx. Born and raised in the borough, he is also connected to his Peruvian culture thanks to his parents. Jonathan’s work can be seen on BronxNet TV filling in as a guest host or covering local happenings, and on the red carpet for BELLA Magazine. In 2023, Jonathan launched a podcast “Inspire Your Inner Boss” talking with creatives and entrepreneurs about what inspires them and how they define being a “boss.” He continues to work on his craft, recently becoming a journalism graduate student at CUNY Newmark J-School.
Visual Artist
Maria Luisa Portuondo Vila is a Chilean artist whose work spans from installation to literature. Her projects normally focus on creating artistic events that emerge from the relationship between artwork, context and participants, who are regarded as co-creators of the art piece. Vila´s pieces are created from a wide range of media and they grow as her audience does. This allows her to capture people’s personal memories and weave them as micro-memories in a collective memory record. In this way, her work can be seen as a contribution to historicity, society and to an awareness of what makes “us”. María´s work has been exhibited in Asia, Europe, and The Americas. She currently lives and works in New York City. Vila is a Casita Maria Teaching Artist.
Performers: Friday, May 30
GrandWizzard Theodore, aka Theodore Livingston, creator of the scratch and needle drop, is featured in the first hiphop movie “Wild Style” and in the movie Scratch. He has traveled around the world teaching hiphop classes and playing venues and been teaching at the NYC Scratch Academy since 2002. His life story is told in the Netflix show The Get Down. GrandWizzard is a Casita Maria Alum.
Join Bronx Community Collage (est. 2021) & Casita Maria and express yourself with us. All materials will be provided for an afternoon of creative analog collage making in the Bronx. One of the most affordable, forgiving, and accessible styles of art, there's no one who can't collage! All ages can get down! Bring a friend! Make a friend!
Join the National Double Dutch League (NDDL) for an electrifying interactive performance that celebrates the history and cutting edge of Double Dutch! Cheer along and be amazed by dazzling Double Dutch Fusion Freestyle routines. Fusion Freestyle combines the athleticism of jump rope with elements of dance, gymnastics, and teamwork, creating a visually stunning display you won't forget. Afterwards, jump into the fun for a Double Dutch Open Jump! This is your chance to try your hand (or feet) at Double Dutch, a sport with a rich history dating back to 1973. Founded by David A. Walker, Double Dutch has transformed from a street game into a global phenomenon with citywide, national, and even world championships.
Full Circle Souljahs was founded in 1992 by BESSIE Award-winning choreographer Kwikstep, and established as a nonprofit in 1997 by artistic directors/choreographers Kwikstep and Rokafella. Since then, Full Circle Souljahs has been dedicated to preparing the next generation of hip hop artists through focused training and frequent interaction with the elders of the company who provide life and career building aesthetics. The company helps to create performance opportunities for its members through a supportive community of presenters and grassroots organizations. From concerts to theatrical shows, educational forums, music and now film, Full Circle continues to evolve its brand of hip hop work, bridging together their experiences from the street to the stage.
During the festival, we invite you to feel the beat as we take you on a journey through street and club dance that has shaped and inspired so many from the block and across the globe! Full Circle Souljahs will curate a top 8 "All Styles" battle which will showcase 8 top soloist in multiple street and club dance styles judged by dance legends in the scene!
Photo by Joe Conzo / fullcirclesouljahs.com / IG: fullcirclesouljahs / FB: Full Circle Souljahs / Video
Young Artists of Casita Maria
(Grades K-8) will feature talents developed in Casita Maria's after-school programs including choir, bomba, musical theater, and visual art.
BronX BandA is Casita Maria’s latest collaboration with nine-time Grammy Award-winning artist Arturo O’Farrill. This 11-piece improvisational ensemble is bridging the gap between performers and audiences by weaving original jazz creations into the daily life of the community. Compositions and performances integrate local musicians and collaborative artists, melding traditional jazz with the sounds and stories of the community. Compositions based on the life and legacy of Nelson Gonzalez and Casita Maria Alums GrandWizzard Theater, Tina Ramirez founder of Ballet Hispanico and jazz musician Dave Valentin will be performed.
casitamaria.org/creative-arts/bronx-banda
Performers: Saturday, May 31
Uptown Vinyl Supreme is a DJ collective and community organization born in The Bronx paying homage to the analog roots of music, party and dance culture. Our selections of music know no borders. From funk and soul, to Hip-Hop and R&B, to Salsa and Mambo you will be taken on a musical journey from the moment you arrive at the Festival.
Bombazo Dance Co, founded by renowned master Bomba dancer, Milteri Tucker Concepcion, is a Puerto Rican Bronx based 501c3 Dance Organization that conserves, educates and performs Puerto Rico's oldest musical genre and African ancestry: Bomba Puertorriquena and its relation to African Diasporic dances from Africa, The Caribbean and Latinoamerica. The organization provides dance and music classes for all ages, workshops and performances.
bombazodanceco.com/ @bombazodanceco
Sofía Rei, a vocalist, composer, and producer, created Folk & Futurism as a follow-up to her critically acclaimed album Umbral. This project, in collaboration with trailblazing female artists recognized as some of the most influential figures in the global Latin scene, aims to explore the convergence of traditional Latin American folk culture, alternative genres, and digital technologies.
Tiny Desk Meets Global FestVideo
Alí Bello & The Charanga Syndicate
Alí Bello & The Charanga Syndicate is a dynamic Latin band that reimagines the rich traditions of charanga music. Rooted in its Cuban origins and infused with the vibrant energy of New York City, this ensemble delivers a fresh, contemporary take on a classic genre. With a blend of timeless melodies, modern arrangements, and irresistible rhythms, their music invites everyone—whether charanga enthusiasts or first-time listeners—to join in the celebration. Expect lively improvisations, spirited energy, and a dance floor that won’t stay empty for long. Alí Bello & The Charanga Syndicate masterfully bridge the gap between tradition and innovation, creating a musical experience that is both nostalgic and refreshingly new. Come prepared to move, groove, and be captivated by the vibrant sounds of charanga redefined for today’s audiences!
alibello.com / @alibellomusic
Villalobos Brothers
A high-energy concert filled with virtuosic violin, fiery vocals, and vibrant fusion of Son Jarocho, Latin Jazz, and Classical music. Rooted in Veracruz traditions, their performances inspire with infectious energy, brotherhood, and powerful social messages.
Nelson González is a Puerto Rican tres player. He specializes in the Cuban tres, and only occasionally plays the Puerto Rican tres (similar to the cuatro). He is a prolific session musician and has been a member of renowned salsa ensembles such as Fania All-Stars, Orchestra Harlow and Típica 73.He has authored a book on the tres guitar method published by Mel Bay. Together with Pancho Amat and Papi Oviedo he is considered one of the most influential modern tres players.
nelsongonzalezonline.com/bio.htm
Performers: Sunday, June 1
Jenn Jade & “Jade 8!”
Feat: Gerardo Contino, Richard Baskin Jr, Norman Edwards Jr, Kali Rodriguez-Peña, & Oreste Abrantes.
Jennifer Jade Ledesna, Grammy nominated Bronxite polyglot, is an alumna of the New School & LaGuardia Arts. A Montreux Voice Competition Finalist, Equity actress, & "Betty Carter Jazz Ahead" composer, Ms. Jade often performs at "Aux Trois Mailletz" in Paris, “Jazz Na Avenida” in Brazil, & was the first Afro-Latina Artistic Director of “Minton’s Playhouse” in NYC! JJ recently starrred as Tempest in the feature film SINCE I LEFT YOU, Jade in the film MEADOWLARK, “Tinima” in the opera-musical HATUEY: MEMORY OF FIRE!, & “The Angel” in the “SUGAR HILL NUTCRACKER!” She’s performed with Bill T. Jones, Bobby McFerrin, Brenda Braxton, David Antonio Cruz, Candido Camero, Dave Valentin, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Sanabria, & Roy Hargrove, among others. Check out her album “TRUTH!”
Uptown Vinyl Supreme
See above
Lulada Club is NYC's premier all-women salsa orchestra, a groundbreaking ensemble that showcases the incredible talent and creativity of female musicians at the forefront of the city's music scene. These powerhouse performers bring their unique voices and energy to every note. Lulada Club creates a dynamic, unforgettable experience that resonates with audiences from all walks of life. Each performance is not just a concert but an invitation to dance, connect, and celebrate the vibrant, inclusive community they’ve built—a celebration of culture, rhythm, and the strength of women in music.
luladaclub.com / @luladaclub
Eddie Palmieri & La Perfecta II
Known as one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years, Eddie Palmieri is a bandleader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.
Palmieri’s parents emigrated from Ponce, Puerto Rico to New York City in 1926. Born in Spanish Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Palmieri learned to play the piano at an early age, and at 13, he joined his uncle’s orchestra, playing timbales. Palmieri’s professional career as a pianist took off with various bands in the early 1950s including Eddie Forrester, Johnny Segui’s, and the popular Tito Rodriguez Orchestra. In 1961, Palmieri formed his own band, La Perfecta, which featured an unconventional front line of trombones rather than the trumpets customary in Latin orchestras. This created an innovative sound that mixed American jazz into Afro-Caribbean rhythms, surprising critics and fans alike. Palmieri disbanded La Perfecta in 1968 to pursue different musical endeavors, though he would return to the band’s music in the 2000s.
palmierimusic.com
About the Partners
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1894, mobilizes members, the private sector, and philanthropic partners to build equitable economic opportunities for Bronx businesses and residents which build community wealth and chart a forward thinking, results-driven economic future for Bronxites.
BronxNet Community Television provides programming and opportunities to inspire, educate, inform, engage and promote community voices for the Bronx and beyond.
Carnegie Hall's Nuestro Sonidos Festival
A schedule of 100+ partner events presented by leading cultural and academic institutions across New York City and beyond is part of the Hall’s season-long Nuestros sonidos (Our Sounds) festival that shines a light on the vibrant sounds, diverse traditions, and enormous influence of Latin culture in the US. From February through May 2025, the Nuestros sonidos celebration extends beyond the walls of Carnegie Hall to include events hosted by 50+ festival partners citywide. The South Bronx Culture Festival 2025 is part of this event.
Supported by the Hunts Point Alliance for Children and funded through ACS, the
Hunts Point Community Partnership focuses on connecting families with organizations that directly advocate for and serve the community. The Hunts Point Community Partnership identifies community needs and makes connections to strengthen families and their access to services. In addition, the Community Partnership team is responsible for the facilitation and coordination of Our Children’s Journey, a new initiative developed by community residents and partners.
huntspoint.org/community-partnership
The Misty Copeland Foundation (MCF) is committed to making ballet accessible and inclusive by providing children in under-resourced communities with opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive through dance. Its signature program, BE BOLD (Ballet Exploration, Ballet Offers Leadership Development), is a groundbreaking afterschool initiative that nurtures confidence, creativity, and community while advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in ballet.
For 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding.
Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts (PRIDA) supports Puerto Rican artists with a membership program that advocates, empowers, and services its members. We provide a platform to support the sales of art by Puerto Rican artists, inform members of upcoming events, welcome Puerto Rican artists of all disciplines, sponsor events to showcase and promote Puerto Rican arts and culture, and provide opportunities for members to conduct workshops and other special events. Board Chair, Raesha Cartagena
In an attempt to fight the blight and deterioration that had plagued the Hunts Point community of the Bronx, the group known as SEBCO (South East Bronx Community Organization) was formed in the fall of 1968 under the visionary leadership of Father Louis R. Gigante. SEBCO is responsible for the development and construction of over 6,000 new or rehabilitated housing units in approximately 450 buildings throughout the South Bronx. SEBCO has grown from a small group of community activists into a sizable and sophisticated development company with over 300 employees. From modest origins, SEBCO has contributed greatly to the City of New York by providing jobs, commerce, recreational facilities and of course, housing for its low and moderate-income residents.
THE POINT Community Development Corporation is dedicated to youth development and the cultural and economic revitalization of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. Celebrating over 25 years of service, THE POINT offers a multi-faceted approach to asset-based community development. Its programming falls within three main headings all aimed at the comprehensive revitalization of the Hunts Point community: Youth Development, Arts and Culture, and Community Development.
Supported By
