Meet the WDC Performers
The WOMEN’S DRUM CENTER has five groups that provide entertainment for fundraising events, public concerts, and private parties. Performances are high-energy celebrations of world music, perfect for audiences of all ages and backgrounds!
drumHeart is the WDC’s premiere performance drum ensemble, currently directed by Alexandra Ray and Jo Klein. For over 30 years, drumHeart has delivered powerful drum music for community fundraisers, walks, and runs. They are equally at home at the Orchestra Hall as at the Minnesota State Fair! Their repertoire includes original songs composed for the group, traditional West African music, and Brazilian samba music. Through this variety, drumHeart delivers unique performances that leave audiences energized by world music.
Rehearsals are held on Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm.
Women Who Groove is WDC’s lively community-based ensemble, led by Bettie Seitzer. The Groovy Women enjoy sharing their drumming and songs, measuring their impact through audience members’ smiles. Their repertoire includes West African drum songs, original pieces, and bucket drumming. Women Who Groovealso sings several traditional songs that feature drumming and voice.
Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30pm.
Women Who Groove, 2021
Djembe Diyamu is WDC’s co-ed group, led by Dan Engebretson. The group performs traditional West African music, paying careful attention to the cultural context and history of the songs. Djembe Diyamu educates and enriches any event with their high-energy performances.
Rehearsals are held on Sundays, 11:45-1:45pm.
Djembe Diyamu, 2022 Annual Concert
Djembe Diyamu, 2021 Annual Concert
Rhythm Connection, founded in 2025 and led by drumHeart assistant director Jo Klein, is an exuberant hand drum and stick drum ensemble. Their repertoire includes traditional songs, as well as imaginative original works. A hallmark of the group is its use of mnemonic phrases, turning the cadence of everyday words into dynamic percussion patterns. What begins as simple spoken phrases becomes layered percussion as the ensemble brings the words to life on drums. The result is music that is playful, surprising, and irresistibly rhythmic—proof that sometimes the groove is hiding right in the language we speak every day.
Rehearsals are held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, 7-8:30pm.
Taikollaborative
Taiko + Collaborative = Taikollaborative!
Taikollaborative: Bringing people together through the love of rhythm and fun! Taikollaborative performs high-energy taiko (Japanese drumming) arrangements and collaborative worldbeat works, as well as nurturing the talents of modern composers -- and comes together as a community through the love of rhythm and fun! For more information, visit our website: http://taiko.biz
Rehearsals are held on Sundays, 5-7pm.