Age: 73
Hometown: Rochester
Current Residence: Rochester
Occupation: Artistic director and founder of Borinquen Dance Theatre
Nydia Padilla-Rodríguez loves dance: from salsa to tap to Garth Fagan technique, she has a passion for all styles and appreciates how movement celebrates culture. But what Padilla-Rodríguez loves even more than dance is people. Her company, Borinquen Dance Theatre, is rooted in Puerto Rican culture and folk dance, but its largest impact is functioning as a safe space for local youth.
When Borinquen — named for the historical Taíno name for the island of Puerto Rico — first opened in 1981, it was for adult dancers only. Padilla-Rodríguez, who was working at United Way, was alarmed by data showing Puerto Rican high school students were failing at a high rate.
“I noticed young people are starving for structure, for consistency, to be around people who believe in them,” said Padilla-Rodríguez. “I wanted to use the arts as a vehicle to learn discipline, confidence and value.”
Recognizing the need for a place where children could connect and create, she pitched a youth-focused program to Hochstein School of Music. Borinquen Dance Theatre called Hochstein home for almost 41 years before moving to its current space on East Avenue.
“So many children have come through her doors,” said Borinquen Dance Theatre assistant artistic director Jayme Bermudez. “It’s not only the dance, but the cultural relevance and importance for our young people. It’s somewhere you can come and sweat and breathe and live.”
Today, company members are required to maintain school attendance and a GPA of 2.5. Many scholarships are available, and students can earn a stipend by learning a repertoire of at least six dances. The structure reinforces work ethic and financial literacy while fostering the sense of belonging and creativity that define a dance studio.
“There’s nothing else like it in the area,” said Damaris Santos, an alumna and current teacher at Borinquen. “Nydia gives a different amount of care and support than you see elsewhere. She’s always fighting for the kids to have the best — the best costumes, time in the studio and support from home.”
Padilla-Rodríguez has also spent 45 years fighting for social change and greater visibility for Puerto Rican culture. She has introduced young people and audiences alike to authentic portrayals of Puerto Rican stories — something she felt was missing from mainstream media.
Santos, who first joined Borinquen when she was 10, said the company fostered immense pride in her Puerto Rican heritage.
“I had this realization that people had to suffer in order for me to participate in these traditions,” she said. “Using dance, Nydia is paying homage to those who came before us and giving Puerto Ricans back that power to tell their own stories properly.”
Borniquen uses Puerto Rican folkloric choreography infused with other dance styles to tell those stories. The costuming, music and movement reflect the many influences that shape Puerto Rican culture.
Inspired by Padilla-Rodríguez, Santos now creates original choreography for Borinquen’s dancers. Her 10-year-old daughter also attends classes, continuing a new generation’s connection to the company and its culture.
Through Borinquen Dance Theatre, Padilla-Rodríguez has introduced generations of students and audiences to Puerto Rican history and culture. It’s a mission Bermudez will carry forward when he eventually succeeds her as artistic director.
“The low-income, underrepresented community areas often don’t have access to anything cultural,” he said. “As Puerto Ricans, we have so many ties to the American story, and we’re trying to excavate that and give younger generations an insight into that.”
Padilla-Rodríguez asked Bermudez to help ensure Borinquen’s legacy continues — and for him, that mission is deeply personal.
“Dance was my saving grace,” Bermudez said, referencing a troubled time in his youth. “And I want to offer that safe space for other young people, to develop them in a way that they have a foot to stand on as community members.”
Part of that work includes “Raíces en Movimiento/Roots in Movement,” a series of free performances, workshops, cultural celebrations and youth leadership opportunities made possible through a City of Rochester ArtsBloom grant.
This November, Borinquen Dance Theater will celebrate 45 years with a gala at Arbor Loft. The evening will honor Padilla-Rodríguez’s contributions to Rochester’s dance community while offering a glimpse of the company’s next generation.
Padilla-Rodríguez sums up the last half-century with one word: “gratitude.”
“Dance isn’t just performing,” she said. “It helps young people discover their value and embrace their culture. If they can carry those lessons into their families and communities, then my life’s work has been worthwhile.” borinquendancetheatre.org —SYDNEY BURROWS
