Accurate Rhythm, Beautiful Movement

By: Tania Cabella

I am a tambourine dancer in my church. I’ve been a tambourine dancer for four years. I have learned so much about tambourine, not just the movement but also how to adjust the music and also match the move with the beat especially the drum beat.

Every move must match the rhythm of music, especially the drum beat. The tambourine has a beat for the movement such as tapping to create a worshipful atmosphere. Also, the drum has beat for each sound. If tambourine and drum don’t have the same beat, it will distract the listener and they will feel lost.

If dancers only rely on memory, their movement may not be in sync with the songs. For example, the songs end but the movements continue. This is a simple mistake but will make the performance look uncoordinated.

That’s why tambourine dancers must listen carefully to the music, understand the beat patterns and know when to start and end their moves. Tambourine is not just about beautiful moves, but also about musical awareness and timing discipline.