2026 WoRld RhyTHm Festival
Program Descriptions

Anadolu Turkish Musicians presents Rhythms of Anatolia at the 31st Annual World Rhythm Festival! Come join us for an afternoon of lively Turkish dance rhythms, traditional sounds, and community. If you enjoy Turkish music, percussion, dancing, or just want to be part of a fun cultural event, we would love to see you there.

Anu Samrat, Arturo Rodriguez and Boka Kouyate will "tag team" facilitation of a special WRF 2026 Grand Opening drum circle in the Rainier Arts Center Event Hall. Drums will be provided to those who don't bring their own. Anu will start us with Indian vocal percussion, Arturo continues with rhythmic ideas from the Afro-Cuban tradition, and Boka wraps up the evening with Mastering the Drum. Djembe players, especially, will want to be there for that one!

Anzanga performs marimba from a number of Afrcian cultures including Zimbabwe, South Africa, Gambia, Guinea plus compositions and arrangements by the director Sheree Seretse

Percussionist and educator Arturo Rodriguez leads an energetic, interactive drum circle at the World Rhythm Festival, bringing people together through rhythm, movement, and community. Participants of all ages and experience levels are invited to explore rhythms inspired by cultures from around the world while developing listening, coordination, and musical connection. No experience is necessary—just come ready to play, connect, and have fun!

The name Djeliyah means; the work of the Djely people in the community. Djelyahs or Griots have always been next to the Kings in the Mande Empire as Cultural Educators, the traditional historians, artist, and musicians of Culture. Boka connects this rich traditional music to Global music; a harmonic fusion between the traditional Griot music, the afro beat and the modern Guinea music which provides a highlife sound for your listening and dancing pleasure.

Open drum circle. All experience levels welcome. Some drums provided.

Dingolay plays a variety of Caribbean dance music, from calypso to salsa, featuring the steel pan.

Edmonds Pungmul Pae is an afterschool Korean percussion ensemble operated by Edmonds School District's Visual and Performing Arts Department. Since 2023, students have been learning and playing twice weekly at Mountlake Terrace High School. EPP has performed for local schools in Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mukilteo, as well as for Mukfest, Seattle's International Children's Friendship Festival, sports events and local business openings. Pungmul is a genre of Korean indigenous percussion and dance grounded in rice farming cultural values of shared work and play, and humans' connection to nature. Instruments represent the primary elements of the weather: wind, clouds, rain and thunder. Rhythms are based on planting, weeding and harvesting, and celebrating the rice harvest in September. Pungmul is played during significant commemorative events and festivals.

All levels introduction to the Egyptian Tablah (Darbuka) George covers today's popular rhythms, sounds, history of the instrument as well as performance tips. This workshop builds concepts in steps for beginners and advanced players so everyone can learn at their own pace.

A facilitated drum circle that will gradually build upon technique and skill to create full, creative connection between Drummers. Open to all levels and experience.

A guided and interactive workshop to build drummers, percussionist and facilitators confidence in connecting rhythms and sounds in a drum circle. This Workshop allows the participants to look, feel and intuitively find improvise rhythms, and highlight musicality in the group. Open to all levels and experience.

Traditional Chinese Dances.

Have fun learning BellyDance Movements with live drumming. Indigo will teach you fun BellyDance movements and combinations, while David gives a quick tutorial of various common Arabi Rhythms.

Springboard Rhythms are easy to learn, fun to play and adaptable to multiple drumming traditions. Come and learn rhythms you can carry to your next drumming adventure.

Leading rhythm events brings joy and connection to participants and lots of personal satisfaction. Are you up to the challenge? So many groups to serve - from camp kids to seniors. Learn some basics and begin your journey. We'll explore foundational elements AND experiential activities that drive the versatile Village Music Circles (VMC) drum circle process developed by Arthur Hull. Participant will also take turns leading in a low risk jammin' fun setting. You'll walk away with more confidence (!) and a roadmap to create your own facilitation practice.

This interactive drumming session (for all skill levels) will show you common street drumming grooves and talk about the history and people that play these grooves. You will learn the basics of street drumming, the core beats, and how to do it on your own.

King Dre Trio is a soulful world class jazz band. Members have performed all over the world. Dennis Blackman the organist has played with Albert King. Steve Black is one of the most sought-after guitar players in the Northwest. King Dre, the drummer, has played all over the world, including Africa, Asia, South America. I also studied at Seattle University and played with the Seattle University orchestra .

Chatur Devam is a Bharatanatyam solo rooted in the classical dance tradition of South India, presenting four devotional compositions on Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Lord Venkateshwara, and Lord Krishna. Vara Vallabha Ramana – Lord Ganesha A devotional composition describing Lord Ganesha’s distinctive elephant-headed form and divine attributes, including the story of how he received the head of an elephant. **Mahadeva Shivashambo – Lord Shiva** A devotional kriti celebrating Lord Shiva’s greatness and power, portraying the Ganga, Damaru, Tandava, and the fierce power of his third eye. **Narayana Hari Govinda – Lord Venkateshwara** A devotional composition describing Lord Venkateshwara’s divine glory and his protection of the universe through the Dashavataram, the ten incarnations. **Vishamakara Kannan – Lord Krishna** A playful portrayal of Krishna’s mischievous interactions with the Gopikas when Yashoda is away. Their amusement gradually turns to exasperation as they struggle with his endless pranks—demanding butter, teasing them with his flute, pulling their hair, and cleverly preventing them from complaining to Yashoda. Through expressive storytelling, the piece captures Krishna’s charming mischief and the changing emotions of the Gopikas. Together, these compositions celebrate devotion, storytelling, expression, and humor through Bharatanatyam.

Leif & Freestyle Candela play Soukous (West African popular music), Kompa (a modern dance music genre from Haiti), and pan-African guitar-oriented music.

Manimou Camara is a master drummer and dancer from Guinea. He began studying the music and dance of Guinea at the age of twelve. His primary education was spent with Sekou Dico Sylla, Karamoko Daman, and the nationally recognized Ballet Saamato. He has played lead dunun for Mohamed Kemoko Sano's world-renowned Ballet Merveille and conducted rhythm and dance camps for people from Europe, Japan, and the United States.

Naby Camara is the two-time Juno award-winning percussionist from the African Guitar Summit, Alpha Yaya Diallo, Fatala and the legendary “Les Ballets Africains” (the National Ensemble of the Republic of Guinea). He is one of the best balafon players in the world and is considered groundbreaking in his ability to mix traditional balafon with many other styles of music. Naby and friends will be teaching balafon. Please bring your own instrument. Only two instruments will be available for workshop participants.

Join in for a rhythmic facilitation situation where curiosity, belonging, and insane amounts of joy may emerge!

Seattle Kokon Taiko is a performing group based in the local Japanese American community. SKT traces its roots to the Seattle Taiko Group, which formed in April 1980 following a dynamic performance by Ondekoza at the Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival. In 1987, three members left STG to form Kokon Taiko Ensemble and focus on smaller, more musical performance pieces. In 1992, these two groups merged to form Seattle Kokon Taiko. Our early teachers and influences included: Seiichi Tanaka and San Francisco Taiko Dojo, San Jose Taiko, Kinnara Taiko, and Katari Taiko. Later influences include Uzume Taiko, Kenny Endo and Kodo. Over the years, we have performed at schools, arts festivals, street fairs, community programs, corporate events and in concert throughout Washington and Oregon. Taiko is a dynamic synthesis of rhythm, movement and spirit originating in Japan and evolving as a folk art over the last several hundred years. In Seattle Kokon Taiko, we try to combine the ancient with the modern; our repertoire is a mix of traditional pieces and contemporary compositions. Through taiko, we hope to contribute to the development of a uniquely Japanese American art form –Japanese in origin, American in expression– that weaves threads of continuity between generations and builds bridges of understanding among people of all nationalities and walks of life. We are currently based out of the International District of Seattle.

I intend to present an Odissi Margam. Tracing its roots back over 2,000 years to the ancient temples of Odisha, Odissi is one of India's oldest classical dance forms, celebrated for its sculptural poses and deep spiritual heritage. An Odissi Margam is a curated, traditional repertoire of this ancient art that offers a comprehensive, elegant, and immersive artistic experience, making it a must-watch for art lovers. It represents a structured journey through classical Odissi dance, often starting with a divine invocation and culminating in a spiritual liberation.

Introductory Nepali drum workshop by Dr.Subhash Prajapati

Capoeira Angola is an African-Brazilian martial art developed by enslaved Africans in the 1600, during the process of the African Diaspora in Brazil. The public will learn the basic movements of Capoeira Angola such as "ginga, negativa, au and rabo-de arraia"; learn how to play the basic rhythms in the Capoeira instruments and be introduce to the songs in Brazilian Portuguese.

Union Cultural Center will be performing Capoeira Angola, an African-Brazilian martial art. The public will watch and be welcome to interact with us and learn the music, movements, history and philosophy of this dance/fight cultural art developed by Africans in Brazil in the 1600 during the time of slavery society. Capoeira is a symbol of resistance and resilience, bringing sense of community building, creative thinking and personal and community healing.

This is your opportunity to play Brazilian music with members of the VamoLa! percussion ensemble. We'll start out with basic rhythm exercises, and move on to play some classic rhythms such as ijexa and samba reggae. Bring your djembe, two-tone bell, or shaker. We'll have a few instruments available to borrow, first come, first served! Join us and learn how much fun samba percussion can be!

This is your opportunity to learn Brazilian dance from highly talented dancers in the VamoLa dance ensemble. Join us and learn how much fun samba dance can be!

Zambuko has been performing for close to 20 years. The group is comprised of individuals of African descent. The music is great for listening and conducive for dancing.