During ancient times, women were community leaders who used the drum for celebration and ritual. Coming together now, as women who drum, we realised how limited the opportunities were for women to discover, explore and connect with the drum.  

Drumming is today very much a male dominated domain, even though, for example, in West Africa up to eighty percent of all traditional rhythms were thought to be originally created by women, who honoured the drum as a life affirming guardian, a powerful and sacred teacher.

By drumming together, women can connect, find a deep sense of belonging and make each others' gifts shine, even when we do not believe we have anything to offer. Drumroots support women's talent, creativity and confidence by welcoming all women who want to drum - regardless of previous musical experience. We also promote the drum as a tool for healing, transformation and empowerment.

All workshops are co-facilitated by Joanna Huddart (Drumroots Co-Founder, Director and Member of Tanante) and Tess Clarke (Member of Drumroots & Tanante), who are experienced teachers, performers and healers. Joanna and Tess aim to bring a sense of freedom and confidence to the drumcircle, grounded by respect for the discipline of West African drumming and the divine feminine in all women.

As female facilitators, we offer support for women only events and groups, including:

• African drumming workshops for women's organisation
• Drumming weekends for individuals (beginners/intermediate)

'Rhythm and the expression of it through dancing, drumming and fire tending brings communities together and helps them grow. This experience binds the circle in a spirit of friendship that crosses all lines of race, age, gender, and faith'. Lance A. Brown

WOMEN'S DRUM WEEKENDS
Through drumming we can heal our lives and harness the natural energy that is always available and waiting for us to connect. We started offering drumming weekends in 2007 as many women were unable to commit to an 8 week course, whilst others were so hooked on the drum they wanted more! Our weekends provide a chance for us to come together and create our own space.

Based at The Pankhurst Centre (the original home of the Suffragette Movement), activities are held within a women' circle. Each session includes warm up games, a chance to learn and play as a group (traditional West African rhythms) and opportunities for improvised solo playing.Guided meditations bring a each day's drumming to a peaceful close. All drums are provided, but places are limited to 14.

Previous participants commented that the women's drumcircle was..."exciting and empowering...lovely, caring, friendly and supportive. Peaceful, grounding, inspiring, challenging, exciting, supportive, great fun...fabulous! Motivational and welcoming. A very beautiful enlightening experience. Fantastic venue, really well organised, even paced workshops...great facilitators for drumming and healing. Your passion, and energy have created a wonderful environment for growth. Sincere thanks to Jo & Tess for being inspiring, gentle, and just so lovely!"

We usually host 2 weekends each season - one for Beginners/Refresher (no experience of djembe) and one for Intermediate players. We are soon holding our next weekend, contact Joanna for details... 

Please call Joanna on 07762 098393 or email jo@drumroots.org.uk to find out more about out women's weekends.  

SUPPORT FOR WOMEN'S ORGANISATIONS
Why not bring the experience of the drum to your women's group? Inclusive and inspiring, our women's drum circles binds us together in a celebratory act, finding our own rhythms as we connect as a community. Joanna and Tess will tailor a workshop to meet the needs of the group. Throughout the session players will start to relax and focus less on what their hands are doing and more on their connection to the drum, themselves and each other as a drum circle. We weave simple, easy to follow traditional West African drumming techniques with self-empowering messages, so as women play they feel confident and powerful, as well as having great fun! Aided by relaxation and meditation techniques at the start and end of each session, the drum circle deeply roots us to each other and the earth.  We experience emotional release which creates room for the new and enables us to embrace healing.

"Patients and staff that attended and they were all really pleased with the session. People said they felt energised by the session and so much happier. The patients were surprised that they could get involved and that it did not matter if you thought you were "no good at it" - they could still contribute. There have been requests for you to return as everyone commented on how well you got everyone involved in the session." Partnerships in Care (women's secure mental health unit, Nottingham)

"The drumming workshop was very good, everyone that took part enjoyed it. The instructions were very clear as well as encouraging. I thought that the workshop was one of the best activity we had on for the day." Energise and Willow Tree Healthy Living Centres, International Women's Day 2009

"During the recent evaluation session I carried out with the Women's Group the drumming session emerged as one of the top 3 most enjoyable sessions of the term (the activities were evaluated by asking each woman to choose their favourite activities of the term)." Women's Project Co-ordinator, British Red Cross

If you're interested in how your organisation can benefit from drumming activities, please call Joanna on 0161 2572615 / 07762 098303 or email jo@drumroots.org.uk

WOMEN'S 8 WEEK COURSE,  2010
"the drum as teacher, the circle as our space"
Celebrating 2010 as the 5th year of Drumroots African drumming for women in Manchester! The 8 week course is held within a drumcircle, creating a safe space where, with the development of basic drum techniques, you can explore and express your creativity with confidence. We offer an experience that encourages each player to find their own rhythm, sense of worth and belonging in a world where increasingly we are isolated from each other. Over the 8 weeks you will be able to chart your development and go deeper with the drum. All drums are provided and no experience is needed - you will be guided and supported in finding your own connection to the drum and the circle.

Participants of previous courses have commented...
"Drumroots women's drumcircle was a supportive space to learn drum techniques...a safe space to let creativity flow...an excellent course - well paced and well planned, delivered professionally and the facilitators were friendly, approachable, skillful and thoughtful..."

"You created a magic space and got the drumming back into the women's hands! Relaxing, inspiring, great fun...enjoyable, uplifting and fulfilling...moving, beautiful, heart thumping...thanks so much for a very special experience.  Amazing, enlightening and transforming."

With thanks always to Jayne Preece, co-founder of the WDC, inspiring partner in crime! Wishing you well on your journey.

  

ARTICLES

Body & Soul Magazine, July/August 2008, "Spirit Drum, Healing Circle", written by Joanna Huddart
In Guinea, West Africa, there is a proverb that says, "Ni kan tiyen, sewa tiyen. Ni sewa tiyen, kantiyen" - "Without music there is no joy, without joy there is no music." Rhythm is the heart of music, and as the oldest form of celebration, drumming unites many heartbeats as one universal pulse.  This unique power of the drum was recognised by women in ancient Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Cuba and Native America, who played drums as part of their spiritual practice, channelling mind, body and spirit through the resonance of sound.  At women's initiations, rhythm was a doorway to deeper knowledge and inner discovery.

Following a ten year journey exploring the mysteries of the drum, I realised there are now virtually no opportunities for women to connect with the drum, but its gifts are still ours to claim. It was for this reason that I co-founded the Drumroots Women's Drum Circle in May 2006.  We offered an eight week course to women with no experience of drumming and were overwhelmed by the response.  In providing a chance to learn the traditional West African techniques of hand drumming in a safe space, women developed confidence in creativity, skill in playing and the ability to connect as a community through rhythm.  Inclusive and inspiring, the drum circle binds us together in a celebratory act.  We find emotional release that allows space for the new and enables us to embrace healing.  Aided by relaxation and meditation techniques at the start and end of each session, our drum circle deeply rooted us to each other and the earth. "When people drum together, the world is a better place." (Babatunde Olatunji).

Now in its third year, Drumroots Women's Drumcircle continues to offer women a unique life affirming experience. I encourage all women to reclaim the drum, for in daring to take your place in the circle, the drum can open a gateway to universal wisdom. Surrender to the journey the drum is waiting to take you on. We look forward to welcoming you.  "I hear a drum in my soul's ear coming from the depths of the stars!" (Rumi).

Joanna also performs the traditional rhythms of West Africa with Tanante (the group's name is Mandinka for "peace only").