UW Ethnomusicology Visiting Artist Concert: Miguel Ballumbrosio, Afro-Peruvian Music & Dance

• Miguel Ballumbrosio

Autumn Quarter Ethnomusicology Visiting Artist Miguel Ballumbrosio presents a performance of Afro-Peruvian dance and music traditions from the region of Chincha, where several generations of his family have been prominent culture bearers. He is accompanied by students from his classes in University of Washington Music and Dance.

About UW School of Music

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About Miguel Ballumbrosio

Miguel Ballumbrosio was born in Chincha, Peru, in 1976, the 11th of 15 children. His father, Amador Ballumbrosio, was an important culture bearer in his Afro Peruvian community who has been recognized by the Peruvian government as a national treasure. From the age of four Miguel danced zapateo for the Virgen del Carmen, and today he is the leader of the Atajo de Negritos del Carmen, which is celebrated every December in his community.

Miguel's talent also attracted attention from outside his home community at an early age. At age 14 he began to tour internationally with the rock musician Miki Gonzales, and he later immigrated to Lima, where he played with different Afroperuvian groups (Cofradía Negra, Teatro Milenio) and the funk-fusion band La Pura Purita. In 2002 he traveled to France with Grupo Milenio, and later he moved to Spain, where he continued to perform with international artists.

From 2004-2016 Miguel was based in Paris, where he performed on cajón and zapateo (foot percussion) with the Paris Jazz big band, Minino Garay y Los Tambores del Sur, Los Frapadingos, Inca Mandinga and international artists such as Chucho Valdes, Giovanni Hidalgo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba. He has taught Afro-Peruvian music and instrument building at several schools and community centers in Paris, including La Cité de la Musique Philarmonique de Paris, and has also continued to offer workshops internationally.

Eight years ago Miguel began building the Centro Cultural Amador Ballumbrosio in his hometown of Chincha, a space for the people and their traditions, to promote and preserve Afro-peruvian and Afro-andino culture. He has returned home to continue the legacy of his father, Amador Ballumbrosio.