New exhibit at Museum of Contemporary Art explores reggaetón and dancehall as forms of protest

In 2019, protests broke out across San Juan, Puerto Rico, demanding for Governor Ricardo Rosselló’s resignation, after a series of sexist and homophobic chats were leaked between the governor and his aides.

"During the protest, artists did play a visible role," said Carla Acevedo-Yates. "For example, Bad Bunny, Residente, iLe and Ricky Martin led a protest, and they released a song, 'Afilando los Cuchillos' that became a rallying cry during that time."

The protests culminated in a "perrero combativo," or "combative reggaeton dance" on July 24, 2019 in front of the Cathedral of San Juan.

That day, Rosselló resigned.

"It became a celebration of his resignation, and it also reminded me of a centuries-old tradition of music and dance as forms of protest in the Caribbean," Acevedo-Yates said.

She said it was also around this time when the idea for the Museum of Contemporary's Art's newest exhibit, "Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón," began taking shape.

"It's an exhibition that gathers works by 42 contemporary artists, and it's looking at the social, political and spiritual histories of dance hall and reggaetón," Acevedo-Yates said.

The exhibit features paintings, sound sculptures, and instruments and an entire participatory space where visitors can interact with the art including karaoke machine and installation.

Every Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m., visitors are invited to sing karaoke to songs from artists like Bad Bunny and Selena.

"To have an exhibition become an experience, and to be participatory, and to be able to sit on a chair that is an artwork, to participate in an installation that is an artwork, to engage with a jukebox, I think it changes the museum experience," she said. "Audiences are not used to that."

Acevedo-Yates said she wants visitors to understand that dancehall and reggaetón are not just musical genres.

"They are sites of cultural production," she said. "They are tools for survival and resistance, and they have very deep social, political and spiritual histories."

"Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón" is open through September 20, 2026.