Raíces Cultural Center

05/31/2026

05/28/2026

Small group drum classes are in full swing at Raíces. The current class cycle is closed for registration but you can fill out our drum class interest survey to be among the first to be notified of our fall schedule and registration links. Link in bio.

Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.

Made possible by funds from Middlesex County, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Additional support has been provided by the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund, Highland Park Arts Commission and Herbalicity.

05/27/2026

Spring is winding down but we are NOT. Find us every Monday and Thursday for dance classes with live drumming. Info and registration link in bio!

Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.

Made possible by funds from Middlesex County, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Additional support has been provided by the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund, Highland Park Arts Commission and Herbalicity.

05/21/2026

When the sound of the drum takes to another place…

It was HOT outside this week in NJ, like Caribbean summer heat, so we moved our Monday classes outside under the trees. The mix of the rhythms and the sounds and energy of nature was soothing and inspiring.

Want to join? Tonight’s Intro to Bomba class will be held indoors due to rain at 20 River Road in Highland Park. Join us!

Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.

Made possible by funds from Middlesex County, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Additional support has been provided by the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund, Highland Park Arts Commission and Herbalicity.

05/21/2026

Fact 👉 Small percussion instruments like güiros (gourd scrapers) dialogue with drums and other instruments, giving salsa and its musical family their flavor. This güiro was collected from Indigenous musicians in eastern Cuba in 1919.

With diverse African roots, along with Spanish, Indigenous, and other Caribbean influences, salsa’s interlocking rhythms invite us to dance. Dive deeper into salsa’s instruments and sounds at our latest exhibit!

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Dato 👉 Algunos instrumentos pequeños de percusión como el güiro dialogan con los tambores y otros instrumentos, dándole a la salsa y a su familia musical un sabor sin igual. Este güiro fue recolectado de músicos indígenas en el oriente de Cuba en 1919.

Con diversas raíces africanas, además de influencias españolas, indígenas y caribeñas, los ritmos intercalados de la salsa nos invitan a bailar. ¡Conoce a profundidad los instrumentos y sonidos de la salsa en nuestra última exposición!

1919, Cuba, Güiro, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution 22/1609.

05/14/2026

Raíces Roots Crew at the HP Street Fair's Earth Day Fair section hosted by Sustainable Highland Park. Thank you to SHP for inviting us to share our living traditions with the community.

05/14/2026

Flashback to the fall, Raíces Caribeñas at the HP Conservative Temple for their first Caribbean Night. Looking for an interactive performance or workshop in your cultural, educational or community space? Check out the request an engagement page on the Raíces website for details:

https://raicesculturalcenter.org/drum-song-dance-classes/request-a-presentation/

05/14/2026

True? False?

Salsa’s layered rhythms have diverse African roots, along with Spanish, Indigenous, and other Caribbean influences... True!

Small percussion instruments like maracas dialogue with drums and other instruments, giving salsa and its musical family their flavor. This set of maracas was collected from Indigenous musicians in eastern Cuba in 1919. Take a closer look at these and other maracas when you visit Puro Ritmo. 🪇

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¿Verdadero? ¿Falso?

Las capas de ritmos de la salsa tienen diversas raíces africanas, además de influencias españolas, indígenas y caribeñas... ¡Verdadero!

Algunos instrumentos pequeños de percusión como las maracas dialogan con los tambores y otros instrumentos, dándole a la salsa y a su familia musical su sazón sin igual. Este par de maracas fue recolectado de músicos indígenas en el oriente de Cuba en 1919. Observa más de cerca estas y otras maracas cuando visites Puro Ritmo. 🪇

1919, Cuba, Maracas, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution 9/2264.

05/13/2026

First drum classes of the Spring/Summer 2026 season started tonight with a class section made up solely of dance students. Tomorrow we have the Raíces section (ages 4-8) and TWO more adult sections. This class cycle is now officially closed for registration but you can fill out our drum class interest survey to be among the first to be notified of our fall schedule and registration links. Link in bio.

05/12/2026

We have one spot left in each of our Wednesday night drum classes, starting tomorrow! Check it out and learn more about our ongoing programs in the latest edition of our Raíces Roots News e-newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/d8256d8ddc9e/spring-programs-may