SQ FALL Bomba & Plena Classes: Learn Afro Puerto Rican Traditions

SEGUNDA QUIMBAMBA SCHOOL – FALL 2025 SEMESTER

Hola Familia!

We can't wait to welcome you and share our love and passion for Puerto Rico! A new season to celebrate and uplift each other! Learning together about la música, cultura y comunidad. Great exercise, healing and positive energy! Fun and supportive community.

Learn Afro-Puerto Rican percussion and dance, beats and moves with Segunda Quimbamba! We've been teaching the rich cultural folkloric music known as la Bomba and la Plena for over 3 decades in Jersey City, and throughout New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. Segunda Quimbamba's foundational learning and teaching in Bomba is rooted in the traditions of la Familia Cepeda de Santurce. La Plena learning started with NYC's Los Pleneros de la 21. In discussion and demonstration, the students gain understanding of the various regional differences in the dances and percussion rhythms from Loiza to Mayaguez. The rhythms that practiced are: sica, cuembe, calinda, yuba, holandes, sies corrido, rule, balance and oyo mula.

GRANT SUPPORT: This program is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, division of the Department of State, and administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development, Craig Guy, Hudson County Executive & the Hudson County Board of County Commissioners. A grant Supported Public Funds from the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund. A Resident Partnership at the Nimbus Arts Center at the Lively extending community access for impact.

Program Access contact Nanette Hernández will coordinate your requests for assistance and accommodations and answer your questions. Please email Nanette at [email protected] or call/text 201-463-4814.

The Nimbus Dance studios and theater building are an ADA accessible venue. Please visit their website https://www.nimbusdance.org/ for complete venue accessibility information and for a current status on COVID Safety policy and protocols.

GENERAL SESSION September 28 – December 14 (Parranda)

CLASS DATES: Sept 28; Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26; Nov 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Dec 7 and 14

Time: 2 - 4 PM on Sunday Afternoons

All classes are at the Nimbus Arts Center in Downtown Jersey City. Last day for fall registration is October 5. On-site registration will be available at Nimbus.

Classes culminate with Neighborhood Parrandas on December 14.

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First DAY Sept 28:

Playing live music, the team welcomes everyone! Listening and observing the ritmos played and danced introduced by teachers and Segunda Quimbamba members. We convene in a circle sharing our names, where we are from, why we are in the space, and what each of us envisions to gain to carry back and pass it forward to the community. Bonding to help us grow together. Welcome packets distributed.

Oct 5: Welcome packets are received and reviewed. It contains a syllabus detailing what you will learn by the end of the term, goals for the semester form and contact information. We exchange knowledge and a brief oral history of the percussion and dance traditions of our African heritage and ancestry. Throughout the term we share historical information and resources for you to better understand the traditions and give context to what you are learning and its importance in our journeys to deep dive into the cultural history.

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The SQFC Arts Education Team will guide students for proper class placement assuring the best learning experience. Maximum 26 students per studio class.

What happens in the studio?

PERCUSSION CLASSES Each class begins with a 5-minute warm up.

Students are introduced to Bomba and Plena drums and all the major and minor percussion elements. Engaging with dance students to build up learning in sustaining the rhythm, listening, observing and following cues and messaging that are going on in the energy of the people and in the space.

DANCE CLASSES Each dance class begins with a 10-minute warm up.

Introduced to Plena music and dance, learning of Plena rhythms, steps and choreography done also in pairs. Introduction of Bomba rhythm and basic dance movement exposure foundational and fundamental exercises are taught; learn rhythms, dance steps and choreography. This term we will focus on spatial awareness of movement, time, and sounds of the rhythms learning to identify them. Rhythms the dance students will learn are Holandes, Sica (Gracima if time allows) and Plena dance steps and choreography.

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PLENA PROGRAM: (9/28, 10/5, 11/23, 30, 12/7 coros, Parranda 12/14)

PLENA PERCUSSION 1: ages 14 and up

Students are introduced to Bomba and Plena drums and all the major and minor percussion elements. Students focus on Plena clave and cowbell. Plena Pandero Hand Technique. Metronome Work for Pandero and Barril.

PLENA DANCE 1: ages 12 and up

Plena students learn basic steps, partnered dancing and choreography. Students learn songs through singing chorus in the call-and-response method in the Spanish language. Much in preparation for our Annual Neighborhood Parrandas - a beloved Puerto Rican tradition. (This is a mobile holiday party similar to caroling, serenading house to house and gathering folks along the way). You can do it with your family and friends too!

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BOMBA PROGRAM: (10/12 - 11/16) Fall learning is grounding layers of rhythms in preparation for enhanced Bomba fundamentals taught in the spring 2026 semester.

BOMBA PERCUSSION 1: ages 14 and up

Sica Barril Hand Technique. Focus on Maraca Technique. Engaging with dance students to build up learning in sustaining the rhythm, listening, observing and following cues and messaging that are going on in the energy of the people and in the space.

BOMBA DANCE 1: ages 12 and up

Holandes and Sica basic steps introduced: fundamentals and technique exercises. Grounding the dancer in the rhythm. Exposure to deepen the understanding of the dance and drum dynamic and conversational exchange through listening, observing and engaging in the whole process with intention and clarity. Singing Coro in the call-and-response method in the Spanish language.

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FALL SCHEDULE: Sundays, September 28 – December 14, 2 - 4 PM

FEES FOR PERCUSSION and DANCE CLASSES

Beginner Classes:

New students: $275

Returning Students Disc: $255

DEEP SAVE with COMBO Percussion and Dance Beginner Classes

Special Offer: $465 get all 24 classes! WEPA!!!

SAVINGS OFFER: COMBO DANCE AND PERCUSSION CLASSES:

DEEPEN your learning and save~

Sign up for both dance and drum classes as a combo with deep savings! Learning both disciplines together enhance your experiences that are intertwined and part of a full embodied experience of the drums and dances of our ancestors.

PERCUSSION CLASSES:

1. Percussion 1 Beginner Level

Time: 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Ages 14 and up

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DANCE CLASSES:

1. Dance 1 Beginner Level

Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM

Ages 12 and up

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ TOUCH POINTS: Building community: attend monthly Zoom meetings to speak directly with teachers at: Hablando con los Maestros Meet Up. Get additional classroom support, demonstrations of techniques in dance or drum, discussions of cultural history, the instruments, and the rhythms. Share your stories.

SQFC offer beginners and advanced learning to all students. Private classes available. Families and returning student discounts. Classes for Adults and Children.

See you in Class!

SEGUNDA QUIMBAMBA SCHOOL AT NIMBUS STUDIOS

What can I bring into the studio?

For dance, dress comfortably NO footwear in the studio. A limited number of dance skirts and percussion instruments are available in class. If you own a dance skirt or drum, please bring it with you to classes. Bring your own water, personal hand sanitizer and mask.

Transportation:

Getting to classes-

What is my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Nimbus Arts Center •329 Warren St. • Jersey City, NJ 07302 www.nimbusdanceworks.org • Phone/fax (201) 377-0718

Trains: Take PATH to Grove Street STOP, then a short walk east towards the water on Columbus turning left onto Warren Street, venue at 329 Warren Street. Or Exchange Place STOP walk west on Columbus away from the water to Warren Street turn right for venue.

Car: Limited Street or paid parking available in Downtown Jersey City.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Segunda Quimbamba contact is Nanette Hernandez, [email protected] or call or text 201-463-4814

VENUE:

Nimbus Arts Center •329 Warren St. • Jersey City, NJ 07302 www.nimbusdanceworks.org • Phone/fax (201) 377-0718

IMPORTANT GUEST INFORMATION PLEASE READ

NOTE ON NIMBUS ARTS CENTER PROTOCOLS ON COVID SAFETY:

visit nimbusdance.org for updated information

Host or Publisher Segunda Quimbamba Folkloric Center, Inc.