You do not need to register for the classes. You are welcome to come to one or all of the classes and drop ins are welcome. Bring a bottle of water and comfortable shoes. We will also provide skirts for those who want to borrow one during class. Class is free thanks to the financial support of Salt Lake County Zoo arts and Parks, the Sorenson Unity Center, Salt Lake Arts Council, Creative West, National Endowment for the Arts.
Join us for an inspirational evening including a viewing of the documentary “Takeover”, a discussion on Mental Health through community engagement and action led by Melanie Domenech, and live bomba music and dance in which all are invited to participate.
No registration is needed. All of the events are entirely free thanks to the financial support from the Sorenson Unity Center, Salt Lake County Zoo Arts and Parks, Utah Division of Arts and Museums, National Endowment for the Arts, Salt Lake City Arts Council, and Creative West.
Saturday Nov 7, 2026 3-4pm – Documentary “Takeover” 4-5pm – Discussion on Mental Health through Community Engagement and Action by Melanie Domenech 5-6:30pm – Live Bomba music and dance in Community
location: Sorenson Unity Center 1383 S 900 W SLC
Melanie Domenech is a professor at Utah State University who has spent nearly 25 years working to make mental health care more accessible and effective for underserved communities. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she’s fluent in both English and Spanish and often moves between the two.
Her research focuses on helping families thrive, especially families who don’t always get the support they need from the systems around them. She is the Executive Director of Implementation Sciences International, a nonprofit that helps bring proven parenting and family programs into real-world communities. She’s also the editor of a national academic journal on family therapy, where she works with researchers and clinicians from around the world.
Alongside her career, Melanie has mentored dozens of doctoral students and taken on leadership roles in professional organizations dedicated to ethical, culturally responsive care. She lives in Utah, is married, and maintains a personal spiritual practice that shapes how she approaches both her work and her life.
“Takeover” , the documentary, explores the twelve historic hours on July 14, 1970, in which fifty members of the Young Lords Party stormed the dilapidated Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx, drove out their administrative staff, barricaded entrances and windows, and made their cries for decent healthcare known to the world. They raised the Puerto Rican flag atop the building, as well as a banner reading “The People’s Hospital” – a nom de guerre still used today. Through archival footage, seamless reenactments, and modern-day interviews, the film follows the Young Lords’ resistance against institutions curated by wealth and white supremacy, and their fight for the most basic of human rights: the right to accessible, quality healthcare.
============================ We are committed to ensuring that our event is accessible to all attendees. Our venue is fully wheelchair accessible, featuring: Accessible Entrances: All main entrances are equipped automatic doors for easy access. Restrooms: Accessible restrooms are available throughout the venue. Seating: Designated wheelchair spaces are provided in the event area, with companion seating nearby. Parking: Accessible parking spaces are available close to the venue entrance. Photo release: By coming to this public event you understand that you may be videotaped or photographed in this event and you give permission to Bomba Marilé and its sponsors to use these images for future marketing or educational purposes. Disclaimer and Assumption of Risk Participation in any Bomba Marilé event may involve activities that include physical exertion, such as dance, movement, singing, which may carry inherent risks of injury or harm. By attending and participating, individuals acknowledge that they do so voluntarily and at their own risk. No express or implied warranties or representations are made regarding the safety of participants, and no indemnity or liability is assumed by the event organizers, venue owners, sponsors, or affiliated personnel for any injury, loss, or damage suffered as a result of participation. Participants are strongly advised to assess their own physical condition and limitations before engaging in any activity. By entering the premises and/or engaging in the event activities, participants agree to release, waive, and discharge the organizers from any and all claims or liability, whether arising from negligence or otherwise.
“Sana Sana” Self Expression Through Singing and Song Writing explores Puerto Rican bomba as a powerful tool for singing, songwriting, and emotional expression. Rooted in tradition and shaped by lived experience, bomba invites us into rhythm, call-and-response, and storytelling as pathways to authentic creativity.
No musical training is needed — just a willingness to feel the rhythm and follow what your heart dictates. Through guided rhythmic and lyrical exercises, participants will discover how emotion can lead the creative process.
Whether you are a curious creative or someone simply looking for a new way to express yourself, this workshop offers a supportive space to connect with tradition, community, and your own voice. Join Bomba Marilé with visiting artist and musical teacher Karla Rivera who is visiting from California.
Thursday Sept 24, 2026 6-8pm Song Writing Workshop Friday Sept 25, 2026. 6-7:30pm Bomba Dance Class Saturday Sept 26, 2026 3-5pm Singing Workshop Saturday Sept 26, 2026 5:30-7pm Live bomba music and dance
No registration is needed. All of the events are entirely free thanks to the financial support from the Sorenson Unity Center, Salt Lake County Zoo Arts and Parks, Utah Division of Arts and Museums, National Endowment for the Arts, Salt Lake City Arts Council, and Creative West.
