 About Us
¡Retumba! is a multi-ethnic all-female music and dance
ensemble founded in March 1981 in celebration of Women's
History month. Interweaving traditional rhythms, beautiful
ancient melodies, with its very own unique interpretation,
¡Retumba! bases its work on the music and dance of Africa,
Europe, and its expressions in the Americas and the
Caribbean -Puerto Rico, Cuba, The Dominican Republic,
¡Retumba! emphasizes the particular strengths and
sensitivities of diverse women working together in
celebration, demonstrating the similarities and links of our
shared cultures. ¡Retumba! brings forth the drama and
excitement of world culture and traditions into a feast of
folkloric music that can be enjoyed by everyone.
The Story of ¡Retumba!
“Retumba, an Afro-Caribbean percussion dance and percussion ensemble, emphasizing the strengths of women performing together as they celebrate diversity and talent in the Bronx.” NY Times City Section
In 1981 a dancer from the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre’s training unit teamed up with a group of female percussionist’s for a celebration of Women’s History Month at El Museo del Barrio. The event marked the birth of Retumba, an all female music and dance ensemble and the beginning of a collaborative effort that has lasted for nearly three decades.
The Founders
Yvette Martinez grew up in the South Bronx during the height of the Mambo era. As a child she was drawn to dance and dreamed of becoming a ballerina but the realities of growing up in a working class environment and the lack of opportunities for Latinas in the world of dance put her dreams on hold. As an adult, wife and mother, she joined the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre’s training unit and studied modern dance. But it was a trip to a Bomba Festival in Loiza Aldea, Puerto Rico where Martinez discovered her calling in the guise of a group of elderly women Bomba dancers, who taught her that age, size and color had nothing to do with dance. According to Yvette, “Their credo was, ‘Once a Bomba dancer, always a Bomba dancer.’ It changed my life.”
While Yvette was growing up in the Bronx, Nancy Friedman grew up in Harlem listening to the sounds of street corner rumbas. At an early age, her parents moved to Queens. There, she turned her attention to the multitude of instruments that were strewn about the house and her parent’s record collection, which included the Smithsonian Folkways recordings, a series of field recordings that gave her a deep appreciation for the music of other cultures. Eventually Nancy took up drumming, began composing her own music and joined the Harp Band, a popular Latin ensemble and performed at such prestigious venues as: Art D’ Lugoff’s Village Gate, Mikell’s, Town Hall and high profile gigs, including backing up Dizzy Gillespie at the Clearwater Revival Music Festival and a benefit honoring Jennifer Lopez, where Nancy’s composition, “Que Viva La Mujer Latina” (with lyrics by Rachel Mendez) was performed with pride.
Retumba Con Pie!= ¡Retumba!
Before the group came to be known as ¡Retumba!, they were known as Retumba Con Pie (Spanish for resounding with feet). Initially, the repertoire focused on the rhythms of Africa (Ghana) and the folkloric rhythms of Puerto Rico and Cuba. With the passage of time the repertoire was expanded to include Dominican merengue, palo from Cuba and Haitian liberation dances as well as the folkloric music of Mexico and Peru. In addition, Retumba maintains a core of multi-talented artists who have the ability to sing, play and dance.
Towards the end of the first decade the ensemble enhanced the depth and breadth of their productions by including an educational component that instills pride, raises self-confidence and inspires cultural awareness in our youth. "It's important for young people to know that the music and dance of today has been passed down to us through our ancestors, who struggled, and in many cases died creating a better a life for us," says Martinez," and the best way to honor them is by being the best that we can be.”
One World Arts, Inc.
In 1991, Martinez and Friedman created One World Arts, Inc, a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public and to retain the traditions of the folkloric cultures around the world through educational programs where audiences of all ages come together and participate in projects that include theater and storytelling.
Over the years One World Arts, Inc. has created a number of large productions, including a Holiday Extravaganza that celebrates the traditional customs and music of Mexico and Puerto Rico; Journey through the Caribbean, which takes the audience on a journey that begins in Africa and travels to Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic; and the launching of the Group, Afroditee - whose song "Sex in New York City" was used for the promotional campaign of the syndicated television show, Sex and the City and was aired nationally on TBS.
Currently One World Arts, Inc. is seeking funding for works in progress, such as Melodia’s Drum, the story of a little girl who was discouraged from playing the drum in spite of the fact that it was her destiny to do so, Warrior Women, focusing on female warriors throughout history, the Butterfly Project-Bride’s March which confronts the issue of domestic violence towards women; Mirrors, a comedy/drama about a woman discovering her inner-self; and New York Tendaberry, a theatrical production based on the struggle between good and evil, featuring the music of the late composer, lyricist and pianist, Laura Nyro.
The Future
Future plans include producing, presenting and creating new programs and productions as well as a national tour that spreads Retumba’s philosophy and good will. According to its founders, “Looking back, you learn to value the important times in life rather than getting caught up in other concerns. ¡Retumba! , has offered us an enormous number of those times. Although the nature of our work is demanding and difficult in the sense of preparation and financial struggles, the work itself, the performing for audiences and receiving the support and positive feedback at every performance is very rewarding. The greatest joy is when students who have studied with ¡Retumba! are included in the ensemble performances and having them share the experience of performing at major venues is doubly rewarding."
In addition, Martinez and Friedman state that working in an ensemble of ethnically diverse women has been very satisfying in the sense that women, for the most part, are always working to improve themselves and their environment in a positive way. Their vision of the world is that of peace and harmony, to be achieved through cooperation and support and they place the utmost value on protecting the innocent and giving a voice to those that need to be heard. In this way ¡Retumba!'s vision is aligned with a woman's perception of the world.
Though they readily admit that maintaining their vision has not always been easy, they realize that the way to bring about positive change is not to fight against negative thinking but rather to provide positive alternatives for people to embrace. They feel a fullness and exhilaration when presenting people from all ethnicities, collaborating and embracing one another's differences and believe that they have been given the opportunity to celebrate the joy of life through the gift of diversity. For the members of ¡Retumba! , this is what life on earth is all about. Indeed, ¡Retumba!’s motto – “One World, One Human Race” is every bit as relevant today as when it was conceived.
¡Retumba! Members
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Nancy Friedman
Artistic Director
Percussionist,
Arranger, Composer |
Yvette Martinez
Artistic Director
Dancer,
Choreographer |
Alda Reuter
Percussionist
Dancer,
Choreographer |
Dassi
Rosenkrantz Cabo
Musical Director
Bass,
Arranger, Composer |
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Robyn Lobe
Percussionist
Dancer,
Choreographer |
Sandra Rodriguez
Vocalist, Actress,
Director, Storyteller |
Naomi
Bloch-Schartz
Keyboards |
Mignon
Grayson-Fagains
Vocalist |
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Bonnie Devlin
Percussionist |
Christelle Durandy
Vocalist |
Goussy Celestin
Dancer |
Victoria Tobon
Stage Manager |
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Sue Hadjopoulos
Percussionist |
Sofia Tosello
Vocalist |
Mari Cosme
Dancer |
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