The Bata Project: Tour, Panel Discussion, and House Dress Dance Party at El Barrio’s Artspace PS109 – New York, NY

The Official Parade After-Glow!

Step inside the contemporary Urban | Island Folklore for an intimate conversation with curator Juanita Lanzo as she speaks with Leenda Bonilla, the visionary creator of The Bata Project, to unpack the inception, creation, and journey of the exhibition.

Leenda will discuss how the bata transitioned from a domestic staple to a monumental symbol of Puerto Rican resilience. Joining her is a panel of community collaborators who contributed their own personal histories and creative channels to this project.

A short tour of the exhibit, led by Leenda Bonilla, will commence at 5:15pm, with the panel conversation afterwards.

A Q&A will follow with the audience after the panel.

After our conversation, let’s put art to practice! Join us right after for a dance party celebrating the house dress that connects us all!

What’s the Vibe?

In direct lineage of Bonilla’s “bata charlas,” the Bata Dance Party aims to celebrate joy and make visible the invisible history of the bata. Join DJ Pagan Sounds as he spins a high-energy set that honors the rhythmic legacy of our Caribbean diaspora. We’ll be spinning the genres that made our mothers, titis, and sisters groove while they worked, lived, and led! This may also be you final chance to experience The Bata Project, closing at El Barrio Artspace on June 22nd.

What to Wear?

Come wearing your prettiest bata or your finest guayabera!

Bring your bata or guayabera to the celebration and participate in our exclusive Bata Catwalk to show off your best looks!

Pa’lante, Bataneers! Let’s dance among the art and honor the threads that bind us.