Remembering Raul: Delray Beach drum circle celebrates a late member
On most Wednesday nights, the Delray Beach Drum Circle gathers in the Old School Square for an evening of rhythmic music and dance. But the gathering on February 9 was not like most. For one, an event at the square meant the gathering had to be relocated to the beach, just a few blocks north of Atlantic Avenue. But for another, the drum circle was celebrating the memory of a beloved member who had recently passed away.
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Raul Jimenez, a regular at the weekly gatherings for over a decade, had recently lost his life in a flash flood while hiking during a trip to Brazil. On social media posts and in person, his friends said he was known for many things -- a kind spirit, gentle smile and magnetic draw, among them. At the drum circle, he often danced in the middle of the gathering with a flute in hand adding to the beat of the drums.
On the evening of Feb. 9, a shrine bearing candles and an image of Raul was at the center of a small circle of his friends on the sand. A few yards away, the larger gathering of drummers began thumping low rhythms against the whisper of the surf. In just a few minutes, the friends would turn to the larger drum circle to dance and celebrate Raul through movement – but here they first shared a few quiet moments exchanging hugs and memories.
“We are deeply touched by Raul’s essence,” said Jesicca Aloha, a friend of Raul and acro-Yoga partner. “He will forever live in our hearts."
Andres Leiva is a photojournalist covering all of Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at aleiva@pbpost.com. You can follow his visual work on social media at @amateoleiva on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Delray Beach drum circle remembers member killed by Brazil flash flood
