La Comunidad / Our Community
Moments from our classes, showcases, and celebrations.
El Batey is a non-profit organization committed to centering family, education, culture, and traditions as the cornerstones for a thriving and healthy Puerto Rican community.
Moments from our classes, showcases, and celebrations.
From toddlers to teens, our Bomba & Plena classes connect youth and families to Puerto Rican rhythm, movement, and cultural heritage — the heartbeat of our island, passed down generation to generation.
Mami & Me
A parent-and-child introduction to rhythm and movement — babies and toddlers explore the drum, the dance, and the joy of Bomba side-by-side with a parent or caregiver.
Starting at $75
Drum & Dance
Our youngest learners discover Bomba through play, storytelling, and movement — drum rhythms, call-and-response, and cultural history in a joyful, age-appropriate environment.
Starting at $225
Drum
Intermediate drumming for teens. Students deepen their connection to Bomba's African roots, learn traditional rhythms, and build performance skill and cultural identity.
Starting at $225
Dance
Bomba dance for teens and adults. Traditional movement, stage presence, and the powerful dialogue between dancer and drummer — connect with tradition, community, and yourself.
Starting at $225
El Batey was founded in 2017 in Buffalo, NY with one belief: culture is medicine. When young people know where they come from, they know where they're going.
We center family, education, culture, and traditions as the cornerstones for a thriving and healthy Puerto Rican community. Our vision is a community of possibilities — where we have all the capacity, expertise, programs, leaders, and wealth required to end unnecessary suffering and create an alternative future.
Hear from the families and youth we serve.
"El Batey changed my daughter's life. She walks taller now. She knows who she is and where she comes from — and that pride shows in everything she does."
"I never knew Bomba until I walked into El Batey. Now I teach it. This place doesn't just teach you to dance — it teaches you who you are."
"As a partner through Say Yes Buffalo, we've seen the transformative power of El Batey firsthand. They are building something real — rooted, powerful, and deeply needed."
Join us in community — all are welcome.
"Memoria viva."
A free community festival celebrating Taíno heritage — featuring replicas of a Batey Caguana, bohío, and canoa; hamacas; traditional dance; origin stories; food tastings; art installations; a special visit with Behique Miguel Sague — and much more.
Un festival comunitario gratuito que celebra la herencia taína — con réplicas de un Batey Caguana, un bohío y una canoa; hamacas; baile tradicional; cuentos originarios; muestra de comida; instalaciones de arte; un encuentro con el Behique Miguel Sague — y mucho más.