Arabic Dumming, African Drumming, Asian Drumming, Latin Percussion and more! As we started out in 1991 as a 'Drumming Convention' it’s not surprising that Doris’s heart beats with the drum! From complete novices to experts there is something for everyone to stretch yourselves and learn. Each morning there are six different levels of djembe and many other drumming classes throughout the day as well as the famous drum circles  where you can experiment with all you have learnt.

NEW WORKSHOPS! This year we will be introducing a new  drum for dance class with Idrissa Camara and two levels of sabar drumming: beginners and advanced level with Modou Diouf. We have pandeiro with Claudio kron do Brasil, as well as his high energy beginners and advanced workshops in Brasilian rhythms. In the Arabic area Chas Whitaker will be creating a Middle Eastern drum orchestra and introducing us to polyrhythms from the Gulf and there will be a special workshop with Moroccan musicans Jil Gnawa.  We also welcome back James Barrow the UK's foremost teacher of Japanese Taiko drumming.

Workshop levels have been introduced to make everybody’s learning experience better, it’s not a judgement of your quality but an acceptance that we are all different. You are always welcome to sit in on a more advanced class and listen. A description of levels and abilities that might be helpful can be found in the Workshop FAQ. See the Teachers 2010 pages to find out who is leading the different levels of djembe workshops this year.

“A good drummer listens as much as s/he plays” - Indian proverb

For more advanced players, many of whom are professionals in their own right, the opportunity to play for the dance classes alongside Senegalese, Guinean, Brasilian or Arabic artists is a wonderful training and inspiration.

In 2007 we introduced a new workshop for drumming in performance groups. Working with Hans Sutton and members of the group Shekere we explored ways to perform dynamically, play as a group and stretched your abilities in new ways. This year we have workshops on drumming for dancers led by Idrissa Camara: develop that all important communication between the drummers and the dancers that takes us all to another level whether playing dancing or watching.

If you’ve never drummed before there is a class for complete beginners run by Nanette McLelland, a patient and talented drummer who knows how to coax, encourage and inspire. If you are an advanced drummer there is the inimitable Seckou Keita to stretch you beyond your limits.  If you are at any of the stages in between there is a djembe class for you that will deepen your knowledge, sharpen your skills and inspire you to new heights.  Jalil Toukja is teaching beginners to sing as they drum. Ibro Soumah is teaching improvers. Nansady Keita will be teaching dundun, as well as intermediate level djembe and an extra, one-off, advanced djembe class and Iya Sako is taking the class at advanced intermediate level.

No matter what level you play at, Doris is a space where you will feel safe to make mistakes and get it wrong because mistakes are understood as essential steps to learning! That’s why there are classes for all different levels of ability and experience. There is also the daily drum circle with Tom Morely where, no matter what your level of drumming skill, you can join in, have fun and feel connected.

Each year at Doris we ask the question 'Do women have a different style of drumming?' and each year Kirby helps us find the answer with her women only drum classes!

Some workshops will be more in depth than others and will ask for a commitment to work hard to improve and deliver a fine performance at the end. Teachers of these classes will be asked to push the students. Most classes will be given the opportunity to show their skills in Saturday's finale.

There will be  samba classes in the youth area everyday with Jamma da Samba, as well as daily percussion workshops in the children’s area.

If you don’t have a drum you can hire a fairly-traded one from Ghana Goods - you should contact them before you come on 0117 935 4132.

There will be stalls selling drums and goods from Africa, India, Tibet and more besides.