Maribella Burgos Pizarro

Hometown: Loíza, Puerto Rico

Maribella Burgos Pizarro is a cultural icon in Puerto Rico, celebrated for her tireless dedication to preserving and promoting bomba, the Afro-Caribbean music and dance genre.

GALLERY

Maribella Burgos Pizarro has been a vital force in the revitalization and dissemination of Puerto Rican bomba. Her holistic approach—merging dance, fashion, and education—has empowered new generations to reconnect with their cultural roots through both embodiment and expression.

Biography

Maribella Burgos Pizarro is a cultural icon in Puerto Rico, celebrated for her tireless dedication to preserving and promoting bomba, the Afro-Caribbean music and dance genre. Her journey began at the early age of 4, when she started dancing bomba in her hometown of Loíza. Over the years, she became part of renowned folkloric groups such as Mayombé de Loíza, Ballet Isleño, COPANI, and Batacumbele.

Inspired by her godmother Gladys Rivera, a high-fashion seamstress, Maribella combined her love for bomba with fashion design. This gave birth to Faldas LEM y Más, the first registered brand in Puerto Rico dedicated to bomba skirts and ethnic clothing. The acronym LEM stands for Legacy, Elegance, and Movement, and her designs are known for their vibrant colors, lightweight fabrics, and comfortable fit—empowering dancers to move freely with grace and identity.

After 32 years as a preschool teacher, she retired to fully pursue her cultural work. In addition to designing, she leads educational workshops on bomba and turban-making, aiming to cultivate pride in Afro-Caribbean heritage and tradition. Her work has reached communities in the U.S., Canada, and the Dominican Republic.

In 2019, her designs were featured in the New York Puerto Rican Day Parade through her group Junte Loiceño. She also participated in PerlArte PR, conducting dance workshops in the iconic La Perla community in San Juan. In recognition of her work, she was honored by the Senate of Puerto Rico during Women’s History Month and the celebration of National Bomba Day.

Artistic & Cultural Contributions

Performance & Education:

Member of folkloric groups such as Mayombé, Ballet Isleño, COPANI, and Batacumbele.
Director of Junte Loiceño.
Educator with a degree in Language Arts and a dance certification from the University of Puerto Rico.
Workshop facilitator in bomba dance and turban-making for cultural and educational institutions.

Fashion & Design:

Founder of Faldas LEM y Más, blending tradition with modern aesthetics.
Designs featured in cultural parades and community events.
Creator of seven skirt styles widely used by bomba dancers, characterized by their elegance and functionality.

Recognition:

Honored by the Senate of Puerto Rico for her cultural contributions.
Recognized for her extensive career as a teacher and community cultural leader.
Featured in media outlets such as Primera Hora, Radio Isla, and WIPR.

Cultural Impact

Through her brand Faldas LEM y Más, she has created a platform where tradition and innovation coexist, offering garments that are not only visually striking but also carry deep narratives of resistance, ancestral memory, and Afro-Caribbean pride.

Maribella’s impact goes beyond performance and design: she is also a passionate educator and cultural steward. As founder and lead instructor of Taller Piquete Cimarrón, she guides students of all ages in exploring bomba as a tool of empowerment, identity, and collective healing. Through this workshop, she continues to shape cultural consciousness with rigor, love, and an unwavering commitment to preserving the essence of Puerto Rican traditions while fostering creativity and freedom of expression.