LADAMA: Song, Dance, Roots and Resilience

In collaboration with the TeachRock content team, LADAMA has created lessons and Distance Learning Packs on traditional and popular song and dance from the Latin American nations of Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia for students in grades K-6.

Critically acclaimed since the 2016 release of their self-titled debut, LADAMA has captivated audiences and communities around the world with a mosaic of traditions and instrumentation from multiple nations and cultures in the Americas. Band members Lara Klaus, Daniela Serna, Mafer Bandola (Maria Fernanda González) and Sara Lucas bring together the music traditions of their countries of origin--Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and the United States--to create electrifying performances and recordings. LADAMA blends elements of Maracatu, Onda Nueva and Joropo with Soul, R&B and Pop to forge a sound all their own.

The title of LADAMAâ€s TED talk “How Music Crosses Cultures and Empowers Communities,” given at the TED2018 Conference, reads like a summary of their work. LADAMA joined the distinguished roster of artists who have performed on NPRâ€s Tiny Desk Stage in 2019. They describe their 2020 release, Oye Mujer, the title of which translates, “Listen, Woman,” as a declaration to women and a call to humanity.

The band joined forces with vocalist Jeimy Osorio to create “Soy Latina”, the video for which has garnered more than 1 million views. Whether they are on stage, in the studio or offering educational workshops, LADAMA offers music as a social resource sharing traditions and creating community. TeachRock is thrilled to work with LADAMA and introduce educators and learners to the rich dance and music cultures that they share in this lesson collection.

Read further to hear from the members of the LADAMA in their own words and watch them in action in a workshop in Gamera, Colombia in 2016.

My name is Daniela Serna and I am a member of LADAMA. I play the tambor alegre, which means happy drum. I grew up believing in my dreams, thanks to my teachers and I wouldn't be an educator without their example. There's one teacher that changed my life. His name is Emilsen Pacheco and he comes from the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Not only is he a great percussionist, dancer and songwriter, but he's also very generous in the way he shares knowledge and he's very loving at the same time. Together, knowledge and love are pure power.

-Daniela Serna

My name is Sara Lucas and I live in New York City. I'm a musician and a music educator, a vocalist and a guitarist in LADAMA. My bandmates, three women from Brazil, Venezuela, and Columbia, and I have partnered with TeachRock to create a series of lessons that introduce students to Latin American song and dance. 

-Sara Lucas

I'm a musician and journalist, part of a collective of four women called LADAMA. We are educators, entrepreneurs, and musicians. I play a traditional instrument from Venezuela called bandola llanera. I want to take a moment to say thank you to every single teacher that helped me to access really important and interesting knowledge. They made abstract concepts accessible for me and that is what TeachRock is doing. TeachRock uses music to give students access to knowledge and demonstrates what knowledge can do for us- make a better world. 

-Mafer Bandola

Hi, I'm Laura Klaus. I'm from Brazil. I'm a musician, a music educator, a music therapist, and I'm also part of LADAMA. The role of a teacher is to teach about resilience and resistance, to make students understand what knowledge can do for them; to teach about culture, about understanding this whole world that we live in and the importance of being who we are and knowing our roots. Thatâ€s it. It's about resilience, resistance, about knowing ourselves and knowing our cultures.

-Lara Klaus