EVENTS & NEWS | Academia de Bachata

2019-02-0300_20_09_43086still007_4717964

News from Academia de Bachata

Below are updates on our music programs, the progress of our students, material on bachata music, and more.

If you’re enjoying our posts or have any suggestions, please reach out and let us know!

Puerto Bachata 2025

A musical celebration of Dominican culture that boosts tourism in Puerto Plata

The Bachata Academy, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and local organizations, presents Puerto Bachata 2025, a series of free concerts that bring together music, dance, and community. Over five Sundays between February and March, the iconic La Puntilla Amphitheater comes alive with live performances by top artists such as Ala Jazá, El Prodigio, El Varón de la Bachata, Ramón Torres, Luis Miguel del Amargue, and Marino Castellanos.

The event aims to raise the visibility of Puerto Plata as a vibrant and authentic tourist destination on local, national, and international levels. It also seeks to strengthen the artistic sector by preserving and promoting bachata, delivering an unforgettable cultural experience to all attendees. Additionally, it serves as a unique opportunity to empower youth by giving stage exposure to emerging talents from the Bachata Academy.

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Ricky Giordano

Our guitar students are receiving virtual classes from renowned Jam band guitarist Ricky Giordano. Ricky, a California-based artist of Dominican heritage, is synthesizing bachata with funk and jazz techniques to provide our advanced guitarists with new skills. Ricky first connected with the Academia as an organizer of Jam Cruise’s 2023 visit. Since then, he has volunteered in person at our Cabarete campus for several teaching residencies totalling more than two months of ful

Josh Thompson

Jan 131 min read

From Academia de Bachata to University: Alumni Take the Next Step

Emely Díaz began taking classes at Academia de Bachata in 2010, studying guitar, percussion, voice, and contemporary piano. Soon, she was attending classes daily from 2PM-6PM. “It was the place where I found my Dominican roots and saw myself as a girl on stage, something that… [I had been told] wasn’t appropriate for me,” she said. “The Academia had a fundamental influence on my path. It became my community, my family. Here, I can represent my story and share it with others.

Josh Thompson

Jan 132 min read

Academia de Bachata Talent Shines on Dominicans Got Talent

Pide Tu Bachata, a band led by Academia alumnus Raylin Cuevas, competed in this year’s Dominicans Got Talent. Raylin began studying at the Academia at 10 years old. In 2023, Raylin received a full scholarship for Berklee College’s 5-week program. Now, at age 21, Raylin plays bass and guitar, sings and leads a group made up of current and former Academia students and faculty. The group performs frequently and has appeared on national television many times. Reflecting on Academ

Josh Thompson

Jan 131 min read

Thank You

This holiday season, on behalf of our students, our faculty and listeners around the world, we thank you for being part of our community! We invite you to join us in furthering our mission and to c elebrate your holidays with service. Our young musicians need your support. Donate here: https://givebutter.com/bachata Celebra sus fiestas con servicio. Nuestros jóvenes músicos necesitan su apoyo. Contribuya aquí: https://givebutter.com/bachata Percussion class at Academia de Ba

Josh Thompson

Jan 131 min read

Puerto Bachata: Celebrating Bachata and Merengue on a Grand Stage

Academia de Bachata partnered with the Ministry of Tourism to produce Puerto Bachata 2025, a free concert series that joined our student bands with big stars of bachata and merengue. Over five Sundays in February and March 2025, Puerto Bachata drew more than 14,500 attendees to Puerto Plata’s La Puntilla Amphitheater! La Puntilla came alive with music and dance featuring performances by Ala Jazá, El Prodigio, El Varón de la Bachata, Ramón Torres, Luis Miguel del Amargue and M

Josh Thompson

Jan 131 min read

Konpa Akademi in Cap-Haïtien!

This month, we launched a new campus in Haiti’s Cap-Haïtien! With classrooms provided by Institution de Madame Rose, the Konpa Akademi will focus on konpa and other Haitian traditions. The Konpa Akademi’s director, Emmanuel Civil, studied at the CEMUCHCA School of Music and has been teaching with us for three years. Our Konpa programs have 10 teaching faculty and 120 daily students enrolled. The areas of study include drums & percussion, guitar, bass, piano, voice and music t

Josh Thompson

Jan 131 min read

2025 At a Glance...

We serve 530 students in the Dominican Republic, including 180 at our main campus in Callejón de la Loma, 50 in la Ciénaga and an additional 300 Montessori students at the DREAM Project in Callejón de la Loma. We have 12 student bands. We have 29 dedicated teachers, including 24 in-person teachers and 5 virtual teachers. Our instructors taught an estimated 27,000 hours in 2025. At our main campus in Callejón de la Loma, Cabarete, students receive classes in music theory, chor

Josh Thompson

Jan 131 min read

Bachata Academy 2024 US Tour

Celebrating Latin America's Musical Heritage October 2024, The Dominican Republic’s Bachata Academy band toured US schools and performing...

Benjamin De Menil

Oct 1, 20242 min read

New Hope - Positive Legacy partners with the Bachata Academy

We have wonderful news! Positive Legacy, a foundation dedicated to humanitarian cultural projects, has committed $19,000 to purchasing...

Alla Korotyaeva

Aug 30, 20231 min read

Academia Performance at ADN World Bachata Festival

In November, an Academia student band was invited to perform in Puerto Plata's first ADN World Bachata Festival. Our students performed...

Benjamin De Menil

Dec 22, 20221 min read

8 students selected for Berklee in Santo Domingo!

Academia de Bachata's partnership with Berklee College of Music will start 2023 in full swing. Berklee has selected eight Academia...

Benjamin De Menil

Dec 22, 20221 min read

Latin Star Manuel Turizo Visits Bachata Academy!

On June 9, Grammy-nominated Colombian singer and songwriter Manuel Turizo visited the Bachata Academy in Cabarete. During the visit,...

joaovcbezerra

Sep 15, 20221 min read

Five New Student Bachata Bands Debut

This year, Academia de Bachata has expanded from a single student ensemble band to a total of six bands. Our five new bands debuted on...

joaovcbezerra

Sep 15, 20221 min read

Student Spotlight: Esthefani Receives Full Scholarship to Attend Berklee College's Aspire Program

Esthefani Polanco, a talented young Academia percussionist, has joined Berklee College of Music’s Aspire program in Boston MA....

joaovcbezerra

Aug 6, 20221 min read

Doubling Down on Bachata

In 2021, we more than doubled our enrollment and faculty As the Dominican Republic emerged from lockdown, we more than doubled our...

Benjamin De Menil

Dec 24, 20211 min read

8 GRADUATES COLLEGE BOUND!

Marking an important milestone for the Academia: our first graduates have entered college. Seven Academia de Bachata graduates enrolled...

Sep 28, 20211 min read

Academia de Bachata Partners with HBO

Academia de Bachata partnered with HBO Max on a sold out bachata musicality workshop for children and parents in New York's Washington...

Sep 1, 20211 min read

Recording Session and Sueños 2021 / Grabación y Sueños 2021

Academia de Bachata ensemble hits recording studio for Sueños 2021 In January, Academia de Bachata students experienced their first...

Benjamin De Menil

Feb 18, 20213 min read

Intern/Alumno en práctica: Gabriel Schillinger-Hyman

Meet Gabriel, an Academia de Bachata intern! "I’m passionate about the intersection of music, narrative, and visual art forms and plan to...

Benjamin De Menil

Feb 18, 20211 min read

Jazz House KiDS Trimester 2

Students set to complete trimester two with Jazz House KiDS We’re close to concluding our second remote trimester with Jazz House KiDS, a...

Benjamin De Menil

Feb 18, 20213 min read