is a professional percussionist, singer and dancer from San Juan, Puerto Rico. In this video she gives an introduction to “bomba,” an Afro-Puerto Rican music and dance tradition in which dancers lead the drummer to sound out their improvised movements. “Bomba is a way of expression and communication” with key ingredients, explains RĂ­os. There are bomba drums with a lead drummer, singer, dancer and chorus. “Each one is as important as the other,” she said, and all necessary to making the musical form dynamic.

As the winter quarter 2019 , RĂ­os teaches classes in drumming, dance and singing to students. She also leads weekly community bomba workshops and collaborates on musical events with community arts organizations including , Seattle Fandango Project, and Movimiento Afrolatino de Seattle.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Bomba Workshops
Sundays through March 10, 2019
Workshops led by Amarilys RĂ­os are open to the public on a suggested donation basis.
Union Cultural Center, 803 S. King St., Seattle, WA 98104. Cost: Suggested donation of $5 $10 helps to pay UCC and supporting drummers. More info and

Women Who Rock
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Amarilys Ríos participates in a workshop and discussion with campus and community participants in this conference hosted by the UW’s department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies.
Centilia Cultural Center, 1660 S. Roberto Maestas Festival St, Seattle WA 98144. Details .

Ethnomusicology Visiting Artist Concert
March 14, 2019
Amarilys RĂ­os is joined by special guests and her 91Ě˝»¨students in this concert of Puerto Rican bomba music and dance.
91Ě˝»¨ School of Music, Brechemin Auditorium, 7:30pm. Admission is free.
Details .