HAVE DRUMS, WILL TRAVEL!

Solo Performance

Exceeded my expectations!        

I really enjoyed how you seamlessly blended education and entertainment - combining the origins of the music and the instruments.

The audience participation component also made the performance especially memorable.

Brooke DiGiovanni Evans, Education Specialist, Peabody Essex Museum - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Mr. Coley has lectured extensively at universities, colleges, schools, community centers, and other educational venues. He has toured regionally and internationally as a dancer, musician, actor, teacher, and researcher in Bali, Brazil, Cuba, Ghana, Java, Jamaica, and Mexico.

As a dancer, his specialties are Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Ghanaian, Congolese, and tap.

As a drummer, he teaches and performs folk, pop, R&B, Soul, Latin, and jazz. In 2006, he founded his second band, the "Sugarfoot Band," playing music from these genres that is also great for dancing! In 2001, the band has was reborn as "AFRIKA GENTE" and took on an even stronger folkloric character.

                                                                           See performance schedule below

Read more about Mr. Coley's background

Workshops and Residencies

Thank you so much for your wonderful performance at our event last Saturday!  Your energy kept the audience captivated.  The interactive performance was fantastic!

Kelli Neumeyer, Youth Programs Manager, Cambridge YWCA

"...I am not quite sure how you managed to get such a large array of novice percussionists and dancers to all work together...it was magic!... participation all the way from the back row!"

Ann Hbrowshy - Worcester Public Library

Mr. Coley conducts educational programs on the music and dance of Afro-Latin cultures, including the Caribbean, Central America, Latin America, Brazil. His programs include workshops, residencies, and special performances. They will challenge and increase students academic knowledge as well as performance studies.

Customized programs! --- Solo or groups  - with musicians - dancers. 

Read more about Mr. Coley's educational programs

"AFRIKA GENTE"  Band

In addition to his educational programming, Mr. Coley currently directs -- and plays drums in -- the popular Afro-Latin jazz and folk dance band,                     "AFRIKA GENTE."

Read more about Mr. Coley's band performances

                                SCHEDULE

SOLO

"A Fascinating Rhythm"

July 3-4, 2011                                                                                                        Beat Greens Brigade, Wellfleet, MA

July 7, 2011                                                                                                 Department of Conservation                                                                                    Ryan Playground, Mattapan,         MA                                                                                                 

July 13, 2011                                                                                                        Shute Memorial Library, Everett, MA

July 18, 2011                                                                                                            Jacob Edwards Library, Southbridge, MA                                                           

July 19, 2011                                                                                                          Townsend Library, Townsend, MA

August 2, 2011                                                                                                           New Center for Arts & Culture                                                                            Camp Harborview Island, MA

August 10, 2011                                                                                                       Tynsboro Public Library,Tynsboro, MA

August 26, 2011                                                                                                  Private Function, Naming Ceremony, MIT                                                      

October 21, 2011                                                                                            Sociedad Latina                                                                                                      1730 Tremont St., Roxbury, MA      

October 29, 2011                                                                                                 Coalition for a Better Acre

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Residencies

October 2010 - Education                                                                                     Thatcher Brook Primary School , Waterbury, VT

December 2010 - Therapy                                                                                        Tewksbury Hospital, Tewksbury

March 30, 2011 - Education                                                                             Windsor School, Boston, MA

July 3-4, 2011- Bucket Drums                                                                                     Beat Greens Birigade, Wellfleet, MA

September 2011 to June 2012 - Education                                                                    Boston Public Schools ~ Ellis, Lewis, Haynes

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ADULT DRUM CIRCLE

Monday, October 17, 2011                                                                              Curry College                                                                                                  1071 Blue Hill Ave, Milton, MA                                                                          7:30 - 9:00 PM                                                                                           FREE                                                                      

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TODDLER DRUM CIRCLE

Spontaneous Celebrations                                                                                  45 Danforth St.                                                                                             Jamaica Plain, MA                                                                                           

Drop-in - Every SATURDAY
9:30 AM  $8

Note* - Location Change - Saturday, October 15 at Connolly Library, 433 Centre St. Jamaica Plain.

***                                                            ***
"AFRIKA GENTE" Afro-Latin Jazz, Folk and Dance Band

(also known as the "Sugarfoot" band)

August 6, 2011        11:30 - 1 PM                                                                Waltham Farmers Market, Roslindale, MA

October 21                4:30 - 7 PM                                                                       Sociedad Latina, 1530 Tremont St, Roxbury, MA

October 22                5:00 - 7:00 PM                                                 Spontaneous Celebrations Fundraiser, Jamaica Pond "Tent," Jamaica Plain, MA