Batalá New York is a chapter of the global arts project known as Batalá Mundo, made up of over 30 bands around the world with a common repertoire of music from Salvador da Bahia in northeastern Brazil and compositions by Mestre Giba Gonçalves.
Established in New York in 2012 and led by musical directors Laura Torell and Deinya Phenix, Batalá New York brings a high energy, visually stimulating performance of Afro-Brazilian music and choreography to a variety of audiences. As an all-female and female-led banda de percussao (percussion-based band) of 45 members, Batala promotes Afro-Brazilian culture and female empowerment through the performance of the drum, a traditionally male instrument.
Our drummers have traveled nationally and internationally to perform in global events such as Carnaval in Salvador, Notting Hill Carnival, Dia de Los Muertos festival in Mexico City, and Carlinhos Brown’s Afrodromo. In New York, we have played for the Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Tour, at the Mayoral Reception for the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, on Saturday Night Live performing with Disclosure and Lorde, with Kiran Ghandi as part of the third annual Oxfam Jam benefit concert, and in the film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.