Emersed in the world of afro-carribean music, Maya has expanded his roots by sharing his culture and musical healing not only in the United States and Caribbean, but also throughout the world.

Puerto Rican native Rafael Maya Álvarez is the founder and director of the afro-caribbean group, Desde Cero, as well as the founder and director of the international Education Project known as “Proyecto Unión”. He has participated in various Bomba (Afro Puerto Rican genre) groups throughout his career. Currently, Rafael is teaching in conjunction with the project “Gigantes de la Bomba” offering multiple weekly classes in the Plaza de Recreo of Carolina and to schools in the Municipality of Carolina. Rafael has held instructor positions in numerous programs and has traveled worldwide for his work. Throughout Rafael’s music career, he has given master classes in several areas including, but not limited to: percussion, history, dance and singing. Some of these institutions are  include the University of California (Berkley), University of Florida, Berklee College of Music (Valencia), University of Puerto Rico, University of Colorado (Boulder), and University of Miami, to name a few. By far, the most important element of Rafael's work is cultural education. His dedication is clearly demonstrated by his recent travels to numerous countries providing lectures and performing. These types of projects and experiences continue to be his main focus. For the past 5 years he has been exploring different mediums of expression, from digital art, canvas painting, sculptures to wood carving. He has found a way to add this to his repertoire of creativeness.  

As part of his passionate vision of continuing to share and represent the culture in its different facets, Rafael has recorded music and video for the number one Xbox-One, Xbox360, and Wii fitness game, Zumba: World Fitness Party. This expanded the reach these genres had to a more broad community. He also, alongside Restauración Cultural, released the first instructional dance and percussion Bomba DVD’s. For quite some time, Rafael has worked as a studio musician, recording various albums from around the world. He is currently working on a number of productions soon to be released including his solo album. Stay tuned…

Groups and programs participated in: Majestad Negra (Member and Choreographer), Compañía Folklórica De Loiza (Percussion and Vocals), Restauración Cultural (Co-Director, Percussion, Vocals), ÌFÉ (Percussion and Vocals), Tambuyé (Percussion, Dance, and Vocals), Tendencias (Co-Director, Percussion, Dance, and Vocals), Carabalí (Percussion and Vocals), Sabor a Bomba (Percussion and Vocals), Fiesta Bombera (Percussion and Vocals), Son de Plena (Percussion and Vocals), Henry Cole y Su Villa Locura (Percussion and Vocals), Bambulex (Percussion and Vocals), La Liga Rumbera (Percussion and Vocals), Bomba Tour (Percussion and Vocals), “Vida Plena”, “Head Start,” “Upward Bound”, “Taller de Fotoperiodismo”, various programs of the "Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña”, “Program of continued education, UPRRP”, “Early Start” and “Bomba de Oro”.  

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www.desdecero.org
www.facebook.com/desdecero.org
www.facebook.com/proyectounion
www.facebook.com/restauracioncultural