Las BomPleneras Unplugged

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Las BomPleneras Unplugged is an all women Bomba y Plena group from Chicago dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and growth of the Puerto Rican culture through the music and dance genres of Bomba and Plena.

Group members include Ivelisse Diaz, Maya Fernandez, Lauren Brooks and Anissa Vega.

Ivelisse Diaz

Ivelisse “Bombera de Corazón” Diaz was born and raised in Humboldt Park, the heart of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community. At the age of five, she began studying Bomba under the mentorship of her uncle Eli S. Rodriguez at the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center. Her passion for teaching grew and in 2009 she founded her own Bomba dance school, La Escuelita Bombera De Corazon, which has been providing classes to a diverse population in Chicago and throughout the Diaspora for over a decade. She is a co-founding member and lead vocalist in Bomba con Buya. She has traveled with the group and as a soloist to places like California, New York, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, and Ghana, to name a few. In 2017, she had the honor of being awarded the 3Arts Make a Wave grant. In 2019, she was 1 of 10 artists to receive the main 3Arts Award. With 28 years of learning and continued studies, Ivelisse has become a well-known vocalist, dancer, and leader within the Bomba community in Chicago and beyond.

Maya Fernandez

Maya Zazhil Fernández grew up in the Pilsen/Little Village neighborhoods of Chicago as a third generation Mexican-Peruvian. Coming from a family of musicians, linguists, and cultural workers, at an early age she developed a passion for and commitment to musical traditions, specifically Son Jarocho from Veracruz, Mexico. Committed to the preservation and practice of traditional music as a form of community building, resistance, and healing, she carries out this work through being a founding member of the Son Jarocho collective, Jarochicanos; founding member of the educational organization, Son Chiquitos; and member of the all-female Puerto Rican Bomba ensemble, Las BomPleneras.

Lauren Brooks

Lauren Brooks, born and raised in Chicago, has been dancing Bomba for 27 years. She is a proud member of Buya and Las BomPleneras, both Chicago based Bomba groups. At the age of eight, Bomba became not only a hobby but a lifestyle. She had the privilege of performing as a member of Grupo Yuba at various colleges, universities, museums, and celebrations throughout Chicago. She also traveled to several cities throughout US and Puerto Rico. Her passion led her to become a teacher at Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center and Chicago public schools at a young age. In March 2009, Lauren was one of eight women recognized and presented with an Abolition of Slavery award for her years of work and dedication to the Bomba community. Lauren is a North Park University graduate. Earning her degree in Psychology, she has always had a passion to work with youth. Bomba has been the gateway to Lauren's life journey.

Anissa Vega

Anissa Vega-Alfaro grew up in heart of Humboldt Park. With the encouragement of her grandmother, she became involved in music and dance at an early age. Anissa has been a part of many cultural groups that strive to promote and preserve the Puerto Rican traditions and culture. Anissa loves to express herself through music and dance when she’s not working as a mental health therapist. Anissa directs her own dance company, Meraki Chicas y Mujeres, where she encourages young girls and women to express themselves through Latin dance, culture, and relationships. Anissa is excited to continue working on new projects that foster opportunities for her to spread her love and passion for culture, music and dance.

Ivelisse Diaz

Photo by Christopher Costos