In this workshop, Sael Blanco Pulido, will guide participants through the basics of jarana (8 string guitar) - the most popular instrument in the fandango tradition. Due to the high number of jaranas in a fandango, people who play Son Jarocho are often referred as jaraneros.   In this workshop, participants will learn to play a traditional song and how to sing a traditional verse. 

Since this is a combo workshop with zapateado, Participants will also learn the basics of zapateado with Gemaly Padua Uscanga.  Zapateado is a percussive dance that is done on the tarima  (wooden platform) and accompanies traditional songs during a fandango.

Sael Blanco Pulido del Colectivo Altepee impartirá el taller de jarana.   La jarana (guitarra de 8 cuerdas) es el instrumento más popular dentro de la tradición del fandango. Por ser tan numeroso en el fandango, a las personas que tocan esta música, muchas veces se les refiere como jaranerxs.   En este taller los participantes aprenderán los básicos de la jarana aprendiendo a tocar un son tradicional. También se aprenderá a cantar un verso para acompañar.  Este taller es para todos los niveles.

El taller de zapateado, sera impartido por Gemaly Padua Uscanga.  El zapateado es un baile percutivo que se ejecuta sobre la tarima y siempre acompaña los sones.   Los participantes aprenderan a zapatear ritmos percutivos para acompañar el son que se aprende durante el taller de jarana. 

Opcional: Traer zapatos con suela dura - pero no son necesarios.

In this workshop, Luis Angel Juarez, AKA Pipo, will guide participants through the basics of the gourd güiro and teach various rhythms to accompany traditional fandango songs. 

Luis Angel Juarez ,"Pipo", del Colectivo Altepee impartirá el taller de percusión con el güiro.   En este taller los participantes aprenderán varios rítmos percutivos para acompañar sones tradicionales en el fandango.  No se requiere experiencia.  

In this workshop, Angel Escudero will teach participants how to write their own traditional Son Jarocho verses. Optional: Please bring a pen and notebook.

Angel Escudero Mendoza del Colectivo Altepee, impartirá un taller de versada donde los participantes aprenderán a escribir sus propios versos de acuerdo a la tradición del son. Opcional: Traer un cuaderno y pluma

In this workshop, Ulises Xavier Gonzalez will guide participants through the basics of the requinto, (aka guitarra de son) which is the melodic stringed instrument that initiates songs in the fandango. Limited instruments available.

Ulises Xavier Gonzalez del Colectivo Altepee impartirá el taller de requinto o guitarra de son.  En este taller los participantes aprenderán los básicos del instrumento melódico cuyo papel es iniciar cada son en un fandango.  No se requiere experiencia.  Tenemos un número limitado de requintos.

In this workshop, Gemaly Padua Uscanga will guide participants through the basics of the leona, (aka guitarra grande, vozarrona, bombona) which is the large stringed instrument that creates the bass sounds in the fandango. Limited instruments will be available. 

Gemaly Padua Uscanga del Colectivo Altepee impartirá el taller de leona también conocida como guitarra grande, vozarrona o bombona.  En este taller los participantes aprenderán los básicos de este instrumento con voz grande cuyo papel es dar un sonido de bajo en el fandango.  No se requiere experiencia. Tenemos un número limitado de leonas.

Join us as we celebrate the end of our Academia Bembé Spring Semester with a Spring Celebration, with special music and dance performances by our Academia Bembé students, botanas, special treats, familia, comunidad, and more! FREE and family-friendly event, an RSVP is REQUIRED to attend due to limited capacity.

PLEASE RSVP HERE

Join Bembé Drum & Dance for a community Bombazo at la Casa Cultural de Bembé! Gather in community, drum, sing, dance, and experience the tradition of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba con Bembé! FREE, family-friendly event, open to the public. Food and refreshments provided.

Thank you to our sponsors: RUTH Arts, Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment of the Medical College of WI, Bader Philanthropies, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and the MKE REC Partnership for the Arts & Humanities

Join us for un Fandanguito Bembé in the musical tradition of Son Jarocho at Casa Bembé! Música, baile, comida, cultura, y comunidad!

Join us for our annual Latino Carnaval celebration as we celebrate the Carnaval traditions of Brazil and Colombia with live music and dance, special performances by our Academia Bembé students, botanas (appetizers), treats, art and activities for youth, and more! This is a FREE, family-friendly event. RSVP is REQUIRED to attend due to limited capacity.

THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD-OUT, WALK-INS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED DUE TO LIMITED CAPACITY.

Join Bembé for our annual holiday celebration, ¡Fiesta Navideña! We welcome you to our casa to celebrate the holiday and musical traditions of Colombia, Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Enjoy special performances by our Academia Bembé youth, teen and adult students, a family-style parranda, musical guests and more. Comida & refreshments provided, as well as special fun and treats for children! FREE community event! RSVP strongly encouraged.

RSVP HERE

Join Bembé Drum & Dance for a Bombazo at our Casa Cultural! Gather in community, drum, sing, dance, and experience the tradition of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba con Bembé! Free, family-friendly event, open to the public. Food and refreshments provided.

Colectivo Altepee’s Pipo Juárez will give a percussion workshop with the traditional güiro. Limited güiros will be available. Open to ages 11+.

REGISTER HERE

Colectivo Altepee from Acayucan, Veracruz will share teachings of the huapango and give a jarana and zapateado workshop. Limited jaranas will be available. Open to ages 11+.

REGISTER HERE

Celebrate the weaving of Afro-Latino cultural traditions with the Bembé familia and special guests: Bembé’s Artist-in-Residence, Beto Torrens (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and Colectivo Altepee (Veracruz, Mexico)! Bomba puertorriqueña y Son Jarocho veracruzana! ¡Comida y comunidad, como siempre! ¡Gratis! Free! Con el apoyo de: Ruth Foundation for the Arts + Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment of the Medical College of Wisconsin

Join us for a FREE Afro-Colombian Currulao Drum workshop with special guest, Andy Miller! Open to ages 18+.

This program is funded through a grant underwritten by the Zildjian Family Opportunity Fund at the Percussive Arts Society.

PLEASE RSVP HERE

Join us for a FREE Afro-Colombian Currulao Drum workshop for pre-teens/teens with special guest, Andy Miller! Open to ages 11-17.

This program is funded through a grant underwritten by the Zildjian Family Opportunity Fund at the Percussive Arts Society.

PLEASE RSVP HERE

Join Bembé Drum & Dance for a community Bombazo at Zócalo! Gather in community, drum, sing, dance, and experience the tradition of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba con Bembé! Free, family-friendly event, open to the public. Zócalo will be open for business during the event.

Join Bembé Drum & Dance for a community Bombazo at Zócalo! Gather in community, drum, sing, dance, and experience the tradition of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba con Bembé! Free, family-friendly event, open to the public. Zócalo will be open for business during the event.

Open to the community, ages 18+, All Levels Welcome

REGISTER HERE

Come and learn Samba percussion, drum technique, rhythms, and traditions from Bahia with Master Percussionist and Educator Marcus Santos from Bahia, Brasil!

A contemporary percussionist and educator, Marcus Santos, is a native of Bahia, Brazil. He commits his life to the study, teaching and performance of his hometown's Afro-Brazilian music and heritage. Marcus received a scholarship and completed his studies with honors at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Santos has performed internationally; and has shared the stage with artists such as Paquito D'Rivera (9 Grammy wins), The Brand New Heavies, Orchestra La Passion (Osvaldo Golijov) and the Gipsy Kings. The Brazilian Immigrant Center honored him with the ‘Outstanding Arts Performer’ award in 2008 and Berklee College of Music has awarded him as ‘Outstanding Percussionist' in 2004. Marcus has led numerous workshops on Afro-Brazilian percussion and music for Social Change in universities and conventions around the world, including MIT, Harvard, Brown University and Universidad Central de Venezuela and the Percussion Arts Society International Convention in 2007 and 2010. Currently, Santos is artistic director of drumming groups in six different states in the US; part of an effort to enact positive change by engaging communities through music. Marcus Santos’ passion for Afro-Brazilian music and culture comes through in each of his performances, classes and workshops.

Open to the community, ages 18+, no experience necessary.

REGISTER HERE

Join us for a community workshop on Afro-Brazilian Samba dance and traditions with special guest artist, Pablo Guerreiro, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!

Born and raised in Porto Alegre, Pablo began his artistic career at age 12 at the Afro-sul Odomodê music and dance group. Today, Pablo seeks to further develop his talent and knowledge in Rio de Janeiro. As a teacher at the Jaime Arôxa School of Dance and Cultural Center, he taught samba no pé and ballroom dancing, as well as danced for the Jaime Arôxa Dance Company. Pablo is currently Artistic Director for Unidos da Tijuca Samba School.

Open to the community, ages 18+, no experience necessary.

REGISTER HERE

Join us for our very first Fandanguito Bembé! Son Jarocho música, baile, comida, cultura, comunidad, y más! All are welcome for this celebration of the beautiful musical tradition of Mexican Son Jarocho in Milwaukee at Bembé's Casa Cultural! FREE event, open to the public.

Bembé is excited to be a part of Harbor District's Summer en la Plaza event series for another year and is looking forward to hosting a summer Bombazo en la Plaza at Harbor View Plaza!

Join us for a free community event and cultural celebration of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba with an open Bombazo! The event will include live performances by Academia Bembé youth and teen students, Caribbean food sampling, refreshments, an open batey (drum and dance space in the tradition of Bomba), special guests, and more! Come play, sing, dance or watch and experience the tradition of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba with Bembé while enjoying beautiful views of the Kinnickinnic River! This event is free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

Join Bembé Drum & Dance for a community Bombazo at Zócalo! Gather in community, drum, sing, dance, and experience the tradition of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba con Bembé! Free, family-friendly event, open to the public. Zócalo will be open for business during the event.

Join Bembé for a Summer Salsa Social & celebration! Special performances by students in our Summer Salsa Camp, salsa music, dance, comida, comunidad, and more! FREE event, open to the public. All are welcome, come and dance with us!

Join us to celebrate our new home and learn more about our summer programs!/¡Únase a nosotros para celebrar nuestro nuevo hogar y obtener más información sobre nuestros programas de verano!

2pm: Refreshments & Housewarming

3PM: Ribbon Cutting and Opening Remarks / Corte de cinta y comentarios de apertura

4PM: Open Studios, Music, Dance and Fun! / ¡Estudios abiertos, música, baile y diversión!

Learn about our summer programs, family engagement tuition incentives, free events and more! ¡Conozca nuestros programas de verano, incentivos de matrícula para la participación familiar, eventos gratuitos y más!

Join Bembé Drum & Dance for a community Bombazo at Café el Sol! Gather in community, drum, sing, dance, and experience the tradition of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba con Bembé! Free, family-friendly event, open to the public. Café el Sol Restaurant will be open for business during the event.

Join us Friday, May 10th at 7:00 pm at Alverno College’s Pitman Theatre for the incredible Journey the Atlantic / Viajando el Atlantico! This show is FREE to the public, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the National Endowment for the Arts.

RSVP HERE to reserve your tickets today!

Bembé is excited to offer 3rd-12th grade classrooms up to 35 free tickets per school to our upcoming matinee performance of “Journey the Atlantic/Viajando el Atlántico” taking place on Friday, May 10th, from 10:00am-12:00pm at Alverno College’s Pitman Theatre. The show is 1.5 hours long with a 15 minute intermission. Groups are requested to be accompanied by at least one adult chaperone per six students. This performance is not open to the public, must be part of a school group to attend.

Journey the Atlantic/Viajando el Atlántico takes audiences on an educational and entertaining journey through the African Diaspora through Afro-Latino music and dance, with performances by Academia Bembé youth, teen and adult students with special guests.

To sign up for free tickets for your school, please email Program Director, Imani Jalil at imani@proyectobembe.org

This event is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts