Grade Levels: Kindergarten–12th A Journey Through Latin Percussion
Celebrate the traditions of Latin percussion with this display of Samba to Salsa’s syncopated sounds and powerful rhythms.
Program Type: Assembly Performances
Samba to Salsa
About the Artist
For over 15 years, Samba to Salsa has been a proud member of the Young Audiences of New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania’s artist roster, bringing vibrant percussion performances to schools and communities across the region. Based in Philadelphia, this celebrated ensemble is a dynamic trio with deep ties to the Brazilian and Latin music scenes. The group’s members have played with distinguished ensembles such as Alô Brasil, Spoken Hand Percussion Orchestra, Timbalona, and Conjunto Philadelphia. With a shared passion for cultural exploration, they have studied, traveled, and performed a wide range of percussion genres from the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, West Africa, and the Middle East.
As seasoned teaching artists, the members of Samba to Salsa each bring over two decades of experience in arts education. The group’s teaching artists—Alex Shaw, Josh Robinson, and Andrés Cisneros—are dedicated to fostering young talent while sharing the rich cultural traditions behind the music they play.
Alex Shaw, raised in Virginia, is a percussionist, vocalist, composer, cultural producer, and arts educator specializing in Brazilian music traditions. A long-time member of the Capoeira Angola community, he is a recognized cultural leader in Philadelphia and a recipient of the 2024 Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures Fellowship. He holds an MFA in World Percussion Performance.
Andrés Cisneros, originally from Caracas, Venezuela, was immersed in dance, music, visual art, and theater from an early age. A percussionist, vocalist, bandleader, and cultural educator, his work draws from Salsa, Latin jazz, and folkloric traditions of Latin America and the African diaspora. He holds a Master’s degree in Education and is known for his engaging, hands-on teaching style.
Josh Robinson, a native of Woodstock, NY, is an award-winning percussionist, keynote speaker, and facilitator. Known for his work at the intersection of rhythm, resilience, and healing, Robinson has received numerous accolades, including the 2021 New Jersey Governor’s Award for Excellence in Arts Education and “Performing Artist of the Year” by Young Audiences NJ & Eastern PA. His impact extends beyond performance, as he has been recognized for his contributions to arts education and community healing, including the Community Hero Award from The Uplift Center for Grieving Children and a Service Award from Rutgers University Future Scholars in Camden, NJ.
This artist’s assembly performance, A Journey Through Latin Percussion, comes with a Creative Classroom Toolkit! The Creative Classroom Toolkit is a collection of innovative educational tools that extend your in-school performances into a series of engaging, curriculum-based lessons. Included in the toolkit are artist videos, activity videos, and an educator’s guide. Contents are delivered digitally after scheduling a David Gonzalez assembly.
“The arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing and arithmetic…music, dance, painting and theater are all keys that unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment.”
–William Bennett, former US Secretary of Education
Artist's Programs
Grade Levels: Kindergarten–12th What Our Partners Are Saying
“My students had a great time working with our teaching artist. Each week my students were more engaged than the last. The instructor was very active and knowledgeable about the different types of music. Students enjoyed playing the instruments during their lessons and loved the performance from Samba to Salsa.”
HSA Cultural Arts Advisor
HSA Cultural Arts Advisor
“The three performers were incredibly talented and fantastic musicians. But even more impressive was their engagement with the students. They had good control of the large group, they had fantastic pacing, a nice variety of activities for the students to do, and positive, warm way of speaking to the students.”
School Counselor
School Counselor
“The performers engaged students effectively, kept their attention, and created an exciting and enjoyable atmosphere. Both students and staff loved the assembly. The content was highly relevant to our predominantly Latin student body and fostered a strong sense of cultural pride. Everyone expressed interest in having this assembly return in the future.”
“Samba to Salsa was a fantastic program. It was fun, educational, and engaging.”
Cultural Arts Chairperson
Pines Lake School
Pines Lake School
“All three performers were exceptional. They were on time, respectful, professional, and completely engaging with the students. It was an entertaining educational experience for all.”