By: Lidia Evita, Staff Writer for World Liberty TV

Grupo Folclórico Dominicano 18th Annual Gala Bronx NY-2026, many people from the community, attended this wonderful event.

Including politicians, Community leaders, business heads, many working in non-profit sectors. Yary Nin, a TV Journalist from yarynintv was the Emcee/Host of the Show.

Local leader opened up with a prayer and blessings, before the event started. Then 6 different community leaders were honored for their contribution to society, each one of them received a certificate in a frame, to honor their work.

One of the honorees was Cristina Contreras, the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, exemplifies leadership with a career spanning nearly three decades in healthcare management.

With degrees in Social Work and Public Administration, alongside an honorary doctorate, Cristina’s expertise bridges clinical proficiency with strategic acumen, driving unparalleled improvements in patient care, staff satisfaction, and operational efficiencies.

Cristina’s journey from a dedicated caseworker to a visionary healthcare executive reflects her commitment to service, innovation, and excellence.

Who also is the chairman of the Board of directors for Dominican day parade, which is one of the largest parades in New York City?

Ms. Contreras has been chair for many years and has done a great job, bringing leaders from Santo Domingo, as well as local leaders from the Dominican Community here in New York and the USA.

She is a true leader, and a champion of bringing people together. Cristina Contreras, was honored with a Proclamation from the New York Assembly, for her contribution, to humanity and also doing a wonderful job with the Lincoln hospital, in the Bronx, where she is the CEO.

There was many entertainers, doing live performances, playing trumpet, DJ running the tracks. There was a live fashion show, where men and women from all nationality’s participated.

Wearing Dominican style clothing, participants included from Santo Domingo, Puerto-Rico, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and I also met participants from Georgia near Russia, 2 teen age girls and one boy who modeled and danced in the folklore part of the show.

Domican Folklore dancers, dressed in blue and white, danced very well and people were very excited to see this kind of a dance.

I enjoyed the dancer’s ,  The Dominican devil dancers, known as Diablos Cojuelo (limping devils), these dancers wear elaborate, horned papier-mâché masks and colorful costumes covered in mirrors, bells, and ribbons.

The Diablos Cojuelo trace their origins back to medieval Spanish morality plays. According to legend, this devil was banished to Earth for his mischievous acts and developed a limp upon landing (hence cojuelo). Over centuries, these traditions blended with the rhythmic drumming and dance customs brought by enslaved Africans, creating a uniquely Dominican expression of folklore and community satire.

The whips are an iconic part of the devil costume and are made from inflated cow’s bladders which have been dried and cured with lemon, ashes, and salt.

This was a very entertaining segment of the show, were whips were cracking, these dancers dressed in very colorful outfits. People enjoyed this segment of the show.

It was a very high level show, from high fashion show, professional and amateur folklore dancers, and so much more.

There was close to 10 vendors who each had tables and was selling their products, like Mary Kay representatives, one vendor selling beauty products, another selling FIFA 2026, Merchandize and so much more.

There was a photo-booth where you could take free pictures of yourself or a group shot in front of the banner.

The Beverly Hills Manor, in the Bronx where the event took place was a catering place, very nice and clean, close to 200 people were in attendance, from all over New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to be part of this mega show.

Food was excellent, buffet style, meats, fish, salads, desserts, and the empanadas during cocktail hour were the best I ate for a long time, and the manager was a nice man, since I was not able to eat meat.

He went out of his way and made cheese empanadas, these were very fresh tasted great and melted in your mouth.

The food was very good, as well as service, the place was clean and looked very new from the inside. A good place to do an event.

I have known Ms. Romana Torres for close to 15 years, the founder and CEO of Dominican Dance Group, Inc.

She is a wonderful lady who alongside her 2 daughters and her volunteers, have been doing this for close to 18 years.

Organizing, all kind of cultural shows, throughout the USA, Santo Domingo and may more locations.I want to share below her history and how she got here in 18 years:

About Ramona Torres, Founder and CEO of Dominican Dance Group, Inc:The group “Dominican Dance Group, Inc.” was founded on August 18, 2008 in the Dominican Republic when Ramona Torres’ oldest daughter, Carolina, celebrated her Quinceañera in her hometown of Santiago de los Caballeros.

After 18 years, the group has grown with more than 50 members of all ages and Nationalities, not just Dominicans but also Mexicans, Ecuadorians, and Puerto Ricans.

The group has voluntarily participated in more than 100 events annually such as the openings of Dominican artists and companies, swearing-in of political positions, patriotic parties, beauty pageants, New York Fashion Week, and patron saints such as Our Lady of Altagracia, birthdays and weddings.

Representing what is youth and passion for Dominican culture. We have received individuals

Integral to the Dominican community and culture such as ex-president Leonel Fernandez, currentPresident Luis Abinader, and artist Fefita La Grande, among others.

We have done presentations in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and La Altagracia, Higuey, Dominican Republic.

The group has appeared on various television channels in Spanish-speaking shows such as Telemundo, New York 1, Univisión, Telemicro, Canal América, TV Quisqueya, and Supercanal.

We are a group where our efforts are seen through our hardworking and committed Community, having our uniforms made directly from Dominican Republic and willing to give back through food, toy, and clothes drives.

Where we donate to Latin American countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.

The objective of the Dominican Dance Group is that the youth not only learn and/or improve their Spanish but also learn about the Dominican culture through dance and music.

They also learn about the national anthem, the flag, our independence, and our carnival, typical musical instruments and costumes, and significant characters of our country such as the founding fathers, the heroes of the restoration, and the Mirabal Sisters.

Grupo Folclórico Dominicano (Dominican Dance Group RT): Founded by director Ramona Torres, this highly active troupe operates across NYC (including regular rehearsals and performances in Washington Heights and the Bronx). They perform at over 100 events a year, keeping Dominican cultural heritage alive.

To Donate, or to be part of Grupo Folclórico Dominicano go to their Instagram and Facebook pages to learn more about their great work they are doing for the communities.

We are very happy to support Romana Torres, In Grupo Folclórico Dominicano any way she needs our help, her heart and soul is in the right place helping people and humanity, thank you for what you do Ms. Ramona, we salute you and your organization. Keep the good fight going?

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