Feel the Beat: How Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm Brings Drumming, Dance, and Community Together
Full Video Transcript
Feel the Beat is a collaborative residency with Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm and DanceEd. One of the reasons that we thought that we would be such a great fit to work together is because of how much the music making and the dancing to the rhythms connect and work together. Drumming and dance, it spans across language barriers and skill sets and allows everybody in the room to unite and connect together.
The energy started before they even arrived because we were getting ready for it, right? The music teachers were heavily involved with Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm and everything was so beautifully organized. The first week was strictly with the DanceEd team and then the second week the drumming came in. The drumming joined the dancing so if the grade threes were dancing to a song, the grade ones were drumming along to that.
It's really nice to see how they support each other in that, whether it's drumming or dancing, and how the collaboration really brings the music to life in a new way. I get quite emotional at the performances because the way that they included all of our children was remarkable.
In our school we have Interactions. Those are students with autism. DanceEd and Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm were just amazing with these kids and really made sure that they had a great experience as well. And one thing that both DanceEd and Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm take seriously is that kids can do it. It gives them confidence to say that you can do hard things.
Because everyone can dance, everyone can move to music. That natural rhythm is inside all of us. We will focus on the things that they can do rather than the things that they can't do. That's the thing about it. They allow the kids to come to it as they are.
For me, I think it's actually the people who are running this program. They really believe in what they're doing. It almost felt like they had been with our staff forever. They just had such rapport, not just with the children, but with us as well. The buzz on show day is like no other feeling. It's one of my favourite parts. They kept asking me, "When's the performance day?"
I'm like four more sleeps. All the students were sort of buzzing. I heard from parents that they were practicing at home their dances and their drumming routines. Even when we're setting up on show day morning, having kids peek their head into the gym and see that the stage lights are on. And you know, maybe there's a little bit of that nervous energy too, but we always tell them it's okay to be nervous. That's a normal feeling. It means that you care.
It means that you're pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and that's where we learn and grow the most. Watching the parents first come in is always great. They look at 60 drums on a stage, kindergarten standing by, when the dance starts and the drum starts and it all comes together.
It's this look of shock and awe. I've never heard such positive feedback. I had parents who told me they've never seen their child do this kind of thing before. It was worth taking the day off work for. I had an opportunity to talk to the children after the residency. They loved it. They said they give it a 14 out of 10. Learning the choreography, they loved drumming, they liked doing both.
So we were on like a two-year wait list to get this residency because as a parent council we knew that it was coming, we saved money for it. I wish that we could do it again. As soon as those performances were done, I'm like sign me up, like let's get them back. I just got an email from a parent of a boy in our school and mom wanted to know where she could purchase one of those drums because her son has just become absolutely enamored with drumming now.
Anytime you can get actual artisans into your building, the kids get inspired by that. This could become something they one day imagine themselves to be. We want to just elevate what teachers and administration are working so hard to do, which is create a space that can bring the entire community together and make for an educational experience that's unforgettable.
Feel the Beat is a collaborative school residency from Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm and DanceEd that brings drumming and dance together. The program helps students build confidence, connect through rhythm, and take part in a performance that brings the whole school community together.
About Lucas Coffey and Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm
Lucas Coffey is the founder and lead facilitator behind Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm, a school-based drumming program that uses rhythm to build confidence, connection, and community.
Through his work with students, teachers, and schools, Lucas helps make music accessible to everyone, regardless of skill level, background, or learning style. His programs focus on what students can do, giving them the chance to participate, perform, and feel part of something bigger.
Drumming, Dance, and a Shared Sense of Confidence
In the Feel the Beat residency, drumming and dance work together in a natural way. Students are not simply watching a performance happen around them. They are part of it. Some students drum while others dance, and each group supports the other.
The result is a school-wide program where rhythm becomes more than music. It becomes a way for students to connect across grades, learning styles, and comfort levels.
One of the strongest themes in the video is inclusion. Teachers and families described how students of different abilities were welcomed into the residency and supported in a way that made the performance feel meaningful for everyone.
The program also gives students a clear message: they can do hard things. They can learn, perform, feel nervous, and still succeed.
The Impact on the School Community
The energy of the residency started before the performers even arrived. Music teachers, students, and staff were already preparing for the experience. By show day, students were practicing at home, counting down the days, and peeking into the gym to see the stage lights.
When the drums and dance came together in front of families, the response was powerful. Parents saw students perform in ways they had never seen before. Teachers saw confidence grow. Students left with a stronger sense of what they were capable of.
Programs like this remind students that music and movement are not just school activities. They are ways to belong, create, and imagine what they might become.