Shekere…Congas…Dundun…Cuica…Flying Hands, Shifting Feet, Swirling Braids… Using a fascinating array of percussion instruments, Beverly celebrates universal rhythm and world cultures with drumming, song, stories, movement and spoken word. Honoring ancient African connections between drumming and language, she weaves rhythms and words with drums of Africa and Latin America and percussion colors from her global adventures around the world. Highly interactive with call and response, body percussion, song and movement, Beverly guides the audience on a rhythmic adventure with connections to culture, history, character and curriculum. Dancing Drums Assembly can be designed with a specific cultural or curriculum focus. ie… music of Africa, Latin America, jazz connections, science of sound, language arts integration with stories, poetry and other text.

Artist Background

Beverly Botsford is a cross-cultural percussionist, blending music, movement, and spoken word in solo and ensemble presentations. Embracing drumming traditions of Africa, Cuba, South America and her native North Carolina, Beverly weaves colorful rhythmic tapestries with her infinite array of collected and homemade instruments. Her decades of experience include work with the African American Dance Ensemble, American Dance Festival, as well as sharing passion for rhythm and culture in thousands of school and community residencies, performances and workshops. Beverly has played on three Grammy nominated recordings and brings deep global experience, touring with jazz vocalist, Nnenna Freelon in major venues around the world. The language of music is universal.

Search Criteria

• Program Type: Performance
• Discipline: Multi-Disciplinary, Music, Storytelling
• Grade Level: Elementary
• Cultural Context: African, African-American, Caribbean, European, Latinx
• Accepts bookings in Johnston County