Was born on July 9, 1957 in Morelia, Michoacan State, Mexico. Graduated from the national School of Painting, Sculpture and Printmaking "La Esmeralda. in Mexico city. Ferreyra is not only a well known painter, but is also an acclaimed poet, winner of the 1985 2nd Bienal de Poesia Breve, Valparaiso, Chile, and 1986 .Antologia de Poesia Joven Latinoamericana., Revista Mairena, Puerto Rico.He is also the founder of Nahui Ollin, a group of a spiritual dancers called Concheros or Aztec dancers and founder member of the musical troupe Tarima Son dedicated to play afro-caribean Mexican (called Son) and Latinoamerican music. He is one of the most active promoters of the Mexican Son in Chicago, collaborating since 1995 with musicians with the same affinities. Along his participartion with Tarima Son he has been invited to play with the band in venues as the Smithsonian Folklife Fest in Washington D.C., touring in different states with the Avila Ballet, performing at The Old Town School of Folk Music, University of Chicago, Indianapolis Art Center, Latino Arts in Milwaukee, Athenaeum museum in Schaumburg, Chicago Cultural Center, Navy Pier, Grand Park, in different universities along the country, performing at festivals and cultural centers.
He has been hosted the Last Saturday fandango at Colibri Studio/Gallery for 8 years and promoting the Jarocho and other styles of Mexican music at schools and festivals. Roberto has been portrayed as one of the most active promoters of the Mexican music and cultural traditions as Dia de los Muertos Mexican New Year, and Quetzalyollotl.
Irekani Ferreyra was born in Mexico City. He began playing mandolin with the Aztec Concheros tradition of dancing and playing simultaneously. His father was his first teacher. As a teenager he began his studies in classical guitar and electric guitar in different schools of music in Mexico City such as La Escuela Libre de Musica. He would also attend Fandangos to learn how to play the jarana Veracruzana, a small eight stringed instrument, with the groups Los Parientes de Playa Vicente and Los Utrera from Veracruz, Mexico. He went on to play in different musical genres in Mexico City such as rock bands and fusion bands.Irekani Ferreyra moved to Chicago in 2001 to create the band he currently plays in Tarima Son. In Chicago he learned how to play a variety of new instruments like the requinto jarocho, the violin, Mexican harp, and percussion instruments such as the cajon from Peru. He continued his formal training and education in workshops and private lessons.
In 2006 he performed at the prestigious Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC with his group Tarima Son who continue touring today with Mexican Folkloric Ballets both in Chicago and nationally, playing large festivals, concerts, and other popular venues like the Old Town School of Folk Music, Viva Chicago Festival, Chicago Cultural Center, and the National Museum Of Mexican Art.
Apart from his group Tarima Son he has also made musical contributions to a variety of different projects and recordings like a Spanish Rock and Blues CD, as well as a story telling audio CD book for children. He began teaching and performing as soon as he arrived in Chicago, and he especially enjoys working within the Pilsen community at Colibri Art Center doing private lessons and organizing concerts. He also works in other neighborhoods in the Chicago inner city and surrounding suburbs in after school programs sponsored by various organizations such as the Chicago Teacher Center, the National Museum of Mexican Arts, Casa Program, and in numerous Chicago Public Schools as music teacher and Aztec dance instructor.
Anabel Tapia was born in Puebla, Mex. She started dancing since she was 11 years old. Her formal dancing started in 1993 with The Mexican Folkloric Dance Company Of Chicago with the direction of Jose Luis Ovalle, in which avarcaba different styles and states of Mexico. I also participated in 2000 to 2003 as an apprentice for the Ensamble Espanol with the direction of Libby Komaiko. She is formanlly a musician in keeping traditional music from Mexico with Tarima Son. Works with public schools giving workshops and shows for students with a special program with Tarima Son. Anabel participated as a performer with Tarima Son and workshops for the public at Smithsonian Folk Festival on June of 2007. One of the formers of a tradition starting fandangos in Chicago. She is formanlly giving wokshops at Colibri Gallery of the essentials of zapateado, and is participating by teaching Mexican Folk Dance at public schools with The National Museum of Mexican Art Education Programs.
Jose Galarza is the newest member of Tarima Son, having joined in January of 2010. His lifelong passion for music began as a child while listening to his father's record collection of rancheras, boleros, polkas, and norteñas. Jose began playing bass in early 2008. Jose has studied at the Old Town School of Folk Music under Harlen Tersen and Victor Pichardo. He enjoys performing and watching audience members dance and enjoy the music.