Jose Ferrera Mulen

Background

Accomplished 'bata' and conga percussionist from Guantanamo, Cuba. For 12 years before coming to England, he worked with "Danza Libre", an international dance company based in Guantanamo, teaching and performing daily all over Cuba, and internationally.   In 1999, Jose came to England with Danza Libre, and performed and taught all over the country, including on television and radio, the Womad festival in Reading, the University of East Anglia etc.  In 2001 Jose returned to England independently and began to work.  He has since performed and taught all over the country including The Royal Festival Hall, London, The Womad festival, The Eden Project, Cornwall, etc.

His performances and classes are exciting and educational, Jose brings Cuban music and culture, with all its noise and colour,  and his unique talent in folkloric and popular Cuban percussion to all his performances and classes.

Percussion

Workshops

Jose runs workshops in schools, festivals, and other venues.  He has extensive experience in teaching all ages and all abilities, from 5-6year-olds to adults, from beginners to professional percussionists and percussion teachers.   He is also experienced in work with special needs adults, and has run workshops for elderly people.  His classes are particularly inspiring for teen-age boys, who respond particularly well to his style of teaching, even learning to dance! We have drums and percussion instruments for about 20 people.  However, if the class is larger we can arrange for more instruments if we are given notice.

Performances

Jose can do short performances, fifteen minutes maximum, alone, demonstrating his skill with bata and conga drums.  He also has a network of percussionists, singers and dancers, who perform with him (when available) These performances can be anything between 30 minutes and an hour.  All performances can be tailored to the age of audiences.

Dance

Jose runs classes in Salsa, ChaChaCha, Merengue, Son, Rhumba, Conga and other forms of popular Cuban street dance.  These classes are suitable for adults.  Jose would run a six-week course of 2hour classes, one per week.  He would charge in advance and would require a minimum of 10 participants, each paying £30 for the course. This sum would be dependent on location, cost of venue etc. and would have to be arranged.

Timba Ferrera Conga

Jose is in the process of forming a local conga group, involving percussion, dance, song, artwork, etc. with the intention of participating in carnival nationally and eventually internationally.  We would be glad to hear from anyone interested, although, due to other commitments we cannot start on this immediately.

Stage Requirements:  Jose needs microphones on his drums (3 or 4 for a solo performance)  If he is working also with dancers he would need a CD player.

Transport:  Jose has his own transport, but would want travel expenses for performances or classes outside Norwich.

Performance fee inc. VAT.  Jose also does solo performances, and by arrangement, depending on how many performers accompany him.