The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM), in partnership with Semilla Cultural celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Bomba in the Square. This program is an introduction to the traditional Afro-Puerto Rican dance and music style, bomba. Dating back to the seventeenth century, bomba is a percussion driven artform consisting of drums, maracas, and wooden sticks called cuás, for banging the sides of the drums. Dancers improvise movement that the lead drummer follows and interprets simultaneously as the drum beats.

Bomba in the Square will take place at the FAM in historic Market Square (907 Princess Anne Street) on Sunday, October 1st from 4pm – 5:30pm. This FREE event starts with a 30-minute percussion and song class, 40-minute dance lesson with live music and concludes with a 20-minute bomba jam session where drum music will be played, and participants are encouraged to dance and sing!

Bomba in the Square is a family-friendly event, and all are welcome! Please wear comfortable shoes and be ready to move. Instruments are provided but feel free to bring drums, cuás (wooden sticks), and/or maracas. In the case of inclement weather, the program will be rescheduled to October 28th.

For more information please either contact Theresa Cramer at tcramer@famva.org, or visit us at www.famva.org. The FAM collects, researches, interprets, teaches, and preserves the history, heritage, and culture of the Fredericksburg region. We serve a diverse community through a commitment to inclusion, integrity, credibility, and relevance. We will facilitate an understanding and appreciation of how the acts of those who preceded us have shaped this community and the nation at large—providing both lessons and inspiration as we work together to forge a greater community.