We're so honoured to have Taty Tambor lead a very special Bullerengue drumming & dance workshop at our current home in the Bishopsgate Institute đ
About the Workshop
Bullerengue is an Afro-Colombian tradition that brings people together through drumming, dance, and singing. It began in the Caribbean coastal communities of Colombia and has been passed down for generations, especially by women, elders, and Black communities, as a way to celebrate life, share stories, and resist oppression.
In this workshop, weâll start by learning to play the tambor alegre which is a large drum used in Bullerengue. âTamborâ means drum in Spanish, and this one is known for its joyful, high-pitched sound. Itâs played with your hands and carries the energy and emotion of the music.
After drumming, weâll learn the traditional dance that goes with it, how to move your body to the rhythm, how to feel the pulse in your chest and feet, and how to connect with the roots of this powerful tradition.
Bring a Drum
Weâll have 15 tambor drums available for use đȘ
Depending on capacity we might need more. So if you have one that's easy to transport, no matter the kind, please do bring it along.
Free & Reduced Tickets
Weâre offering Free tickets and reduced ÂŁ10 tickets available for Black and Latinx participants.
No-one turned away for lack of funds, get in contact if you need a reduced or free spot to be able to attend.
About Taty Tambor
Taty is a queer Colombian percussionist and ethnomusicologist who has spent years studying and sharing Afro-Latin traditions like Bullerengue and Cumbia. They consistently show up for the Latinx and queer community, channelling the spirit of these practices as forms of resistance, celebration, and ancestral healing. Their work is rooted in connection: to rhythm, to history, and to each other.
Here is what they said about the workshop in Spanish and translated in English:
En el taller de bullerengue en el tambor alegre, tendrĂĄs la oportunidad de conectar con las raĂces afro descendientes, conectar con dos vidas que te comunicarĂĄn alegrĂas.
AprenderĂĄs desde lo simple y sensible de la mĂșsica, hasta como danzar tu cuerpo al ritmo y compĂĄs de los tambores. AprenderĂĄs a conocer una historia negra que muchos desconocen y que hoy a atravesado fronteras como lo ha hecho nuestra mĂșsica tradicional (Bullerengue).
Vamos aprender desde la posición de tu cuerpo, manos, técnicas para tocar las bases del bullerengue sentado hasta el movimiento de la mujer en el baile.
Ven y GĂłzatelo.
â Taty đȘ
In the Bullerengue workshop with the tambor alegre, youâll have the opportunity to connect with Afro-descendant roots, and to connect with two lives that will speak joy to you, your own and the drumâs.
Youâll learn from the simple and sensitive nature of music, and from there, how to dance your body to the rhythm and pulse of the drums. Youâll get to know a Black history that many do not know, a history that, like our traditional music, Bullerengue, has now crossed borders.
Weâll learn everything from how to hold your body and hands, to the techniques for playing the foundations of Bullerengue while seated, and finally, the movement of women in the dance.
Come and enjoy it!
â Taty đȘ
Welfare & Accessibility
Thereâll be a Queer Salsa Host floating around to support you and help make the space comfy and welcoming.
Weâre always working to make our events safer and more inclusive. Please reach out if you have access needs or anything youâd like us to know.
PA's can always come free for people that need. Just let us know on the door.
About Queer Salsa
Queer Salsa is a queer-led collective building community through the joy and power of Afro-Latin partner dance. Across Latin America and the Caribbean, communities have long used music and movement as tools of resistance, healing, and celebration. Yet, these traditions are often commodified and exploited by the systems they challenge. As queer dancers, we aim to honour this legacy by deepening our understanding of these Afro-Latin traditions and uplifting queer Latinx and Black practitioners in the Afro-Latin partner dance scene, ensuring they are represented and materially supported in what we create.