Artist: Segunda Quimbamba Folkloric Center
Art Form(s):
Artist Bio
Segunda Quimbamba is a cultural gem based in Jersey City. Led by Master Drummer Juan Cartagena and Master Dancer Nanette Hernandez, the band performs and teaches Puerto Rican folkloric music La Bomba and La Plena, honoring their ancestors and heritage through practicing this preservation. The call-and-response music creates a collaborative artistic space in Bomba for the dancer to move to the drums and for a drummer to follow the dancer’s movements with the sound of the drum.
Juan Cartagena
Recognized under the New Jersey State Council on Arts Folk Apprenticeship Program as a Master Drummer, Mr. Cartagena has been performing, teaching, researching and writing about Puerto Rico’s drum music for over 30 years. He is the volunteer Executive Director of SQFC and the director of its dance and drum ensemble, Segunda Quimbamba. Mr. Cartagena is also an instructor, teaching drumming to students of all ages, arranging music for student performances, performing with students in public venues.
Nanette Hernandez
Recognized under the New Jersey State Council on Arts Folk Apprenticeship Program as a Master Dancer, Ms. Hernandez has been performing dance within Puerto Rico’s drumming traditions music for over 30 years. She has also been teaching these art forms for over 15 years.
She is the Director of Development & Education Initiatives for SQFC and works to secure and administer grants for teaching dance within public schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Ms. Hernandez is the President of the Board of SQFC and an Instructor where she teaches dance to students of all ages and performs with students in public venues. She is the principal dancer in the ensemble Segunda Quimbamba.
