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BRISTOL, R.I. – Daniella Hernandez’s love for dance began at a young age, starting with ballet and moving into hip-hop. Then came her discovery of bomba, Puerto Rico's oldest musical genre, and the Roger Williams University junior found not just a dance form but a way to connect deeply with her heritage and community.

“Bomba isn’t just a dance; it’s an emotional and spiritual tool for self-expression and identity,” said Hernandez, a Biology and Public Health double major from San Juan, Puerto Rico. “I didn’t only find a safe space to express myself through art and dance. I also found a sense of identity because I learned so much about who we are as Puerto Ricans, our history, and our culture.”

Hernandez has now taken her love for bomba to a global stage – publishing a bilingual children’s book about the Afro-Latin dance form and performing at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards as a backup dancer for Puerto Rican singer and rapper Rauw Alejandro on Sept. 11.

For Hernandez, performing at the VMAs was not just a personal highlight but a way to showcase her culture’s rich traditions. This year’s VMAs marked several historic firsts for Puerto Rico, she shared. It was the first time Alejandro, a Puerto Rican artist she had admired since her teenage years, was nominated for an award. It was also the first time Puerto Rican choreographers were nominated, and it was the first time bomba was performed on the VMA stage.

"Being part of a group that was able to bring our culture to such a big stage was definitely an honor for me, and an honor to all those who were there," Hernandez said. "It was really nice to share that space with people who love to dance as much as I do, and being with my community made it even more special."

Although balancing schoolwork and rehearsals was challenging, especially in the middle of the semester, Hernandez said her professors at 91�������� were incredibly supportive. Their understanding allowed her to fully immerse herself in the performance. "I usually don't skip my classes, especially since I'm on the pre-med track, but my professors were so supportive, which gave me a huge sense of relief," she said.

Beyond dance, Hernandez is committed to fostering cultural awareness through her writing. Working with the nonprofit Evolution Forward, she recently co-wrote and co-illustrated a bilingual children’s book that’s available for purchase on the organization’s website. The story is a heartwarming introduction to the Afro-Latin dance for young readers and is the first publication in Evolution Forward’s new literature series dedicated to intergenerational anti-violence and child-parent well-being. The book tells the story of a baby who feels the beat of the drum and connects to the rhythmic heart of bomba. “It’s based on my character,” Hernandez said.

The writing process for “Bomba Bebé” was a labor of love, Hernandez said. It took over a year to complete, with Hernandez collaborating with a fellow author to ensure the book was accessible to all ages. “We’re really proud of what we got as a result,” she said.

Balancing her extracurricular passions with her academics is no small feat. As a full-time student, Hernandez has to carefully manage her time between academics, dance, nonprofit work, and her job as a medical scribe at Rhode Island Hospital. “Taking on a lot of opportunities is key for me because it’s something that will happen once in life,” Hernandez said. “I do a lot of things, but I make sure that everything I do helps me grow as a person.”

As a first-generation college student, Hernandez emphasizes the importance of diversity, community, and representation, hoping that her story will inspire others and show them they can accomplish anything they want. She said her experience at 91�������� has been especially rewarding, thanks in part to the supportive environment she’s found at the university. As an active member of several campus organizations, including the Hispanic and Latinx Student Association (HALSA), Hernandez credits her professors and peers for helping her succeed.

“My most rewarding experience at Roger Williams has been having the opportunity to get involved in so many things,” she said. “It depends on your surroundings and who supports you. I feel like everybody at 91��������, from professors to staff, is so understanding and truly cares for you. That’s something I wouldn’t have had the chance to experience at a bigger college.”

Looking ahead, Hernandez said she plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant while continuing her work in cultural advocacy and nonprofit efforts. Her goal is to merge her healthcare career with her commitment to community-based work, aiming to promote cultural representation and diversity in all that she does.

“I’m excited to see where the journey takes me,” she said. “At the end of the day, I want to continue growing and helping others – whether through my career, my dancing, or my writing.”