The beat is on
The drum and dance troupe Java Djembe will present a program on traditional West African rhythms this weekend. Founder Liz Broscoe has been playing drums since age 10. While she started her professional career as a drummer playing in rock and country-western bands, her interest in African drumming began when she was asked to fill in for a conga player at an Afro-Cuban dance class, despite the fact she had never played the instrument before. “I had never felt the power of playing a drum without sticks in my hands,” she told the RN&R earlier this year. “All of a sudden it was hands-on.” Broscoe became an eager student of African drumming and soon got to the point where she started teaching others how to play. Now with Java Djembe she gets to share her love of African rhythms with audiences in Reno and Lake Tahoe. The group performs at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 511 W. King St., Carson City. Tickets are $7-$10. Call 883-1976.