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 RĂ­os participates in a workshop and discussion with campus and community participants in this conference hosted by the 91±¬ÁĎ’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 91±¬ÁĎ students in this concert of Puerto Rican bomba music and dance.
91±¬ÁĎ School of Music, Brechemin Auditorium, 7:30pm. Admission is free.
Details .