Paralounge video - First episode

Paralounge was a great drum gathering with lots of djembes and friendly drum enthusiast from all over Florida. This is the first interview I’m posting exclusively here at miamidrums.com - Clint had donated some of his time for this short clip. Thank you again for everything Clint!
More at Paralounge .
Click play to watch the first episode

In the upcoming weeks I’d be introducing a couple more clips from the event. Interviews with Russell ‘buddy’ helm and Jana Broder

Miami drum circle this weekend - Sunday 11th

Community Drum Circle @ Oak Grove Park

Starts about 3:30 until 6:30 - FREE at 159 St & NE 6 Ave in Miami , across the lake from the parking lot & playground. This is a young circle with a distinctly Haitian flavor. Come ready to pick up some sweet island grooves. There are more good (really good) drummers than there are drums, so bring extras if you have them. There is some seating; but you may want to bring your own. If you want to bring kids, the playground is great .

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Announcing Memorial Day Drum Circle - Monday 5/26

Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami @ 2PM till whenever, probably near the south end of the park. The Carribean music festival will have taken place the day before and there are no events scheduled there on Memorial Day (except for Yoga in the Park at 6PM - don’t think they’ll mind). There’s a playground there and the breeze off the bay. There are palms by the water and there are several covered structures that may be available. You really do need to bring your own seating for this one. Extra drums may be available.

Thanks Mark for the info!

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Flash Update
Changing location to Legion Park 6447 NE 7 Street - just east of Biscayne Blvd.

I love this change since downtown is always a hassle!!!
See you guys this Sunday and next monday

Drum events and classes May 17 & 18 - South Florida

Guinean Drum & Dance Health & Healing Benefit - Link to flyer
Saturday, May 17 - Cost: $12 - Arts Academy of Hollywood - 1955 Harrison Street
Dance: 4:30-6:00p Contact 305-807-0398 or 305-978-3866 for more info
Sunday, May 18 FIU North Campus (151st & Biscayne) Academic 2 Bldg, 2nd floor
Balafon: 1:30-2:30p, Cost $25
Drum: 2:30-3:30p, Cost $15, Dance: 3:30-5p, Cost $12
Contact 305-807-0398 or 305-978-3866 for more info

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Drumming classes:
Saturday 5:30 to 7:30 - African Drum class @ The Goddess Store with Sebon - 2017 Harrison Street
Hollywood 33020. Call 954-929-2369 for more info

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Sunday 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. with Delou Africa Dance Ensemble - FIU North Campus (151st and & Biscayne) Academic Bldg 2, 2nd floor. Contact Njeri, 305- 978-3866 or Matthew, 305-804-1328 for more info.

Off to Paralounge…

I’m not going to be able to post new information for this weekend, since I’m leaving tomorrow for Paralounge. I hope to be able to get some footage and interviews to share it with all of you when I get back…

It’s somewhat a big strech, this year Paralounge is at Mayo, FL - About six and a half hours from Miami Beach… I’ve been looking forward to this trip for quite some time…
Have fun this weekend and I’ll see you all when I get back.

Diego A

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Upcoming events - Drum and dance classes

UPCOMING EVENTS
Sabar Drum & Dance Workshop with Malik Faye
Friday, May 2. Cost: $12
Drum: 7-8p, Dance: 8-9p @ The City of Lauderhill Sadkin Center, 1176 NW 42nd Way Lauderhill, FL 33313 Contact 305-807-0398 for more info

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Saturday, May 3 - Arts Academy of Hollywood, 1955 Harrison Street Dance: 4-5:30p
Contact 305-807-0398 for more info

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Sunday, May 4 - FIU North Campus (151st and7 Biscayne) Academic Bldg 2, 2nd floor
Drum: 2-3:30p, Dance: 3:30-5p Contact 305-807-0398 for more info

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Earthfest 2008 + South Florida drum circle. Key Biscayne

Earthfest 2008

A full-day celebration of Earth, Greater Everglades, and a sustainable South Florida! The festival will amplify the positive message that each and every one of us has the power to bring about a more sustainable world through our everyday actions and personal choices.
Location : Crandon Park on Key Biscayne (Lot #2) -free admission , $5 parking, or free shuttle from Vizaya Metrorail Station - What to bring : Concert blanket/portable chair, drum / instrument for drum circle. Plenty of peace, love, and good vibes!

more info here!

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Drum circle and classes - April 2008

Saturday 4/12 Harambee West African dance class:
3:00 - 4:30PM - suggested donation $5 17030 S Dixie Hwy Perrine, FL Drummers who know Kuku, Sorsonet, Lamba, Manjani are invited

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Broward Drum Circle 4-6PM at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek - Broward County has some of the best drummers in South Florida, and this is the best place to find them on a Saturday afternoon. The site is sheltered, so the circle rocks even in a downpour. I come up from Miami, and it’s always worth the trip.

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Sunday Drum class with Matthew Hill - 2 PM at FIU Biscayne Campus Academic 2 Bldg, North Miami ,FL
in the second floor studio - $10

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Sunday Drum circle @ Oak Grove Park, North Miami, FL

Drum Circle 3-ish till 6-ish - FREE at 159 St & NE 6 Ave in Miami, across the lake from the parking lot & playground. This is a young circle with a distinctly Haitian flavor. There are more good (really good) drummers than there are drums, so bring extras if you have them. There is some seating; but you may want to bring your own. If you want to bring kids, the playground is great (LOTS of kids - all playing very seriously); but it is across the lake from the drum circle, so if you feel that you have to be right next to your kids when they play you may not be comfortable.

Also notice th "ish" on the times. I have arrived a couple of times and not heard any drumming; but as soon as the drumming starts, the group materializes.

Visit at Jonathan Dickinson state park

Today I’m including a new category inside Miamidrums.com.

Last weekend my wife gave me a birthday present by going to the Jonathan Dickinson state park up in Jupiter Florida. About two months ago, in the middle of a work related crisis, I comment her of how wonderful and nice would be to go to a park, and be sorrounded by nature and not much else. To walk on the country side and forget about our daily routines. That not only stroke a chord on my, but I think it also did for her. So on a beautiful Saturday morning, she was driving up north on I-95 without me knowing what was going on.
At first I realized that Buda - that’s how I call my Djembe - and my other drum were inside the car. So I thought we were spending the day at the broward drum circle, but once we passed the airport I started to suspect otherwise.

The Park:
We stayed on the camping close to the river. If you go I seriously recommend you to go to this area. It’s close to the cabin site, and concession store- The park also has cabins with A/C. Each camping parcel had running water and a electricity socket - as well as a grill.
I’m still amazed on how people behave in a national park, or around nature protected areas. Once you enter the park, we were greeted by a very sweet park ranger who gave us a lot of information on the hiking trails and activities. Because of park’s eco-system, it’s not allowed to burn, use / take any dead wood, but sadly people disregard this. Some guy try to burn down a green tree for its wood - The concession store sells wood at a moderated price.

Drums:
We drummed a little. Question to all readers out there. Is it true what they say about snakes being attracted to low frequencies?. My djembe has a very deep and low bass tone, and when we were playing, a black snake appeared from the bushes behind us. My wife freaked out and so did the snake, it was gone in 1second…
We then continue playing for about 20 more minutes, two kids came to see us play, some other grown ups too. They were all too shy to sit down with us and try the drums, but we kept offering them to do so, until a lady with three children ask us to stop - mind you, it was about 5 Pm. We have asked the park rangers about rules and regulations, and they told us that It was fine and allowed. Yes, I didn’t like her attitude, the kids wanted us to continue, but not the mom. So we were polite enough to stop and moved our drumming party to the picnic area. By then, it was getting darker and decided to call the night

I’m looking forward to go to Paralounge this year. Is anybody planning to go too ?

Drum events south Florida

Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 7:00 PM Drum Circle at Naomi’s Garden Naomi’s Garden 650 NW 71st. Miami , FL 33150 305-301-5889

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Broward Drum Circle at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek - Broward County has some of the best drummers in South Florida, and this is the best place to find them on a Saturday afternoon. The site is sheltered, so the circle rocks even in a downpour. I come up from Miami, and it’s always worth the trip.

Drum and dance activities this weekend…

From Mark:
Saturday 4 - 6pm - free
Broward Drum Circle at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek - Broward County has some of the best drummers in South Florida, and this is the best place to find them on a Saturday afternoon. The site is sheltered, so the circle rocks even in a downpour. I come up from Miami, and it’s always worth the trip. I plan to be there early to warm up.

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Sunday 2-ish till 6-ish - free
Oak Grove Park Drum Circle at 159 St & NE 6 Ave in Miami, across the lake from the parking lot & playground. This is a young circle with a distinctly Haitian flavor. There are more good (really good) drummers than there are drums, so bring extras if you have them. There is some seating; but you may want to bring your own. If you want to bring kids, the playground is great (LOTS of kids - all playing very seriously); but it is across the lake from the drum circle, so if you feel that you have to be right next to your kids when they play you may not be comfortable.Also notice th “ish” on the times. I have arrived a couple of time and not heard any drumming; but as soon as I start warming up, a group materializes (as if they were just waiting for me - made me feel quite special).

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Saturday 3/29 Harambee West African dance class 3:00 - 4:30PM - suggested donation $5
17030 S Dixie Hwy Perrine, FL Drummers who know Kuku, Sorsonet, Lamba, Manjani are invited

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Sunday 3/30 Delou Africa Community Dance Class - 3 PM at FIU Biscayne Campus Academic 2 Bldg, North Miami, FL in the second floor studio Please arrive at 3 PM, ready to start warm up. A suggested donation of $5 will be collected at the beginning of class.No matter what you do, have fun playing in this wonderful weather down here in South Florida!