AfroCuban Dance & Drum workshops in Arcata, California

[taikonoatama]

Dave (windhorse) mentioned this on another thread, but it really deserves its own.

The annual AfroCuban Dance & Drum workshops in Arcata, California (small college (Humboldt State University) town up in the redwoods in the North) are on again this year. I've been the last two years and it's really the experience of a lifetime. Master teachers (see list below), taking classes and practicing and jamming with drumming fanatics like yourself from morning to night, day after wonderful day for a week, roadtrips to the redwoods and the beach, rumbas/parties with the instructors every night till the wee hours (really the true highlight - hanging out with these cats in the intimate setting of a party at someone's house). Did I mention the rumbas? - You want to see 80-something Francisco go off on bembe caja with a big stick for an hour without a break? Sandy, Roman, and the guys just getting ridiculous with the congas - it's mind-blowing what guys like this do in an intimate setting like this. Reynaldo, the master of ceremonies and life of the party, a singing and dancing machine, Lazaro, with his sweet, sweet voice, the dancers, 50 people singing coro, ...

Don't miss this, people. There are 5 levels of drum classes from beginner to very advanced, so regardless of ability there's a spot for you.

It's not super expensive considering the whole week (about $450 for a week's worth of classes, 4-5 a day if you take drum, dance, and singing) and room and board in the dorms is only like $50 a day).

Seriously, you gotta go.

Drumming teachers:

Francisco Aguabella
Sandy Pérez
Roman Díaz
Jesus Diaz
Israel “Toto” Berriel
John Santos
Michael Spiro
David Peñalosa
Howard Kaufman
Scott Wardinsky

Songs classes with Lazaro Galarraga

Dance classes with Reynaldo Gonzalez Fernandez and Freila Merencio Blanco and others.

http://www.humboldt.edu/~extended/afrocuban/

James

[Derbeno]

I would like to know from the ones that attended if you went though the hassle of flying in with you own drums or you just paid to rent the drums once you were there.

And if so, how did the conga rental work out?

Thanks

[jorge]

I rented a drum for the week and it worked out fine. The drums they have there are good quality, very playable. It is good for your chops to play other drums besides your own sometimes. Arcata is relatively remote, so bringing a drum would not be worth the hassle for most people, unless you are driving from home. Even if you bring your own drum, everyone else is going to wind up playing it anyway, and you will be switching around to different drums many times per class. The rumba has little respect for private ownership, everything gets shared.
A couple years ago, one of the students had brought a really nice looking brand new drum with a gorgeous wood finish like a piece of fine furniture. Francisco Aguabella was using it to demonstrate a bembe rhythm, playing with a stick in one hand. When he hit the side of the conga with the stick, the student jumped up and told him to hit the metal hardware not the wood. Aguabella went OFF on the guy, it was pretty funny.
I went in 2007, had a great time, and definitely plan to go back this year. The list of drum instructors is absolutely amazing this year, Matanzas and La Habana are both strongly represented. Highly recommended.

[Light Seeker]

It might be a little serendipitous that the workshop is happening a little later in the month this year. I'm going to be in Cuba for a percussion workshop from July 10th - 24th. I had been thinking that going to Cuba would mean I wouldn't get to go to Humboldt this year, but if the Humboldt workshop begins on the 25th, maybe I should consider going straight from Cuba to California...? What do you think?

[Chupacabra]

Can you please tell us more info about where and when and how to make arrangements etc.? Where can we buy tickets? Where can we crash?
I missed out on last year's because info came out too late and I hope to get a better chance this year!

[jorge]

The workshop website James gave in his post has all the information that is currently available. Go to the website and look in the lower left and click on information. That screen has links for fees, housing, transportation, etc.

The university housing is fine, comes with 3 meals a day that are decent. It would be hard to find a cheaper and more convenient deal for room and board, so I recommend the on-site housing.The best thing about the meals is that almost everyone eats there and it is a good way to get to talk to other students and some of the instructors. Call them up if you want more info than is on the website, but generally details like the specific class schedule aren't available until shortly before the workshop starts.

The most expensive part of the deal for most of us is getting to Arcata / Eureka, which is about a 5 hour drive from the Bay area, or a short ride on a small expensive plane. 3 of us rented a Prius 2 years ago and drove from Oakland, and that was the cheapest way we could find to go.

Also, there are many flights of stairs between the food/housing and the classes, so you don't want to carry a drum to and from class unless you are on a quadriceps building spree. Rent a drum and leave it in the classrooms.

I don't know if there are direct flights from Cuba to California yet. Unless President Obama and the congress make major changes very soon, you are probably going to be best off flying from Cuba to one of the available cities, then to SF or Oakland, then to Arcata / Eureka.

[Derbeno]

Would you mind to elaborate with more details on this workshop in Cuba please?

It might be a little serendipitous that the workshop is happening a little later in the month this year. I'm going to be in Cuba for a percussion workshop from July 10th - 24th. I had been thinking that going to Cuba would mean I wouldn't get to go to Humboldt this year, but if the Humboldt workshop begins on the 25th, maybe I should consider going straight from Cuba to California...? What do you think?