¡VAMOS! – Brings Spanish Lessons to Life
30 / 6 / 06
School visits by Coco and Bocao.
Colourful performers from ¡VAMOS! brought Spanish classes to life for pupils at Christ Church Primary School in Shieldfield on Friday 23rd June. To get the children in the Latin spirit Peruvian band Apu and Brasilian musician Bacão paid a visit to the school assembly. Bocão, an expert in the Brasilian art of Capoeira which is a hybrid of martial art and dance that is sweeping the UK, is from Salvador Bahia in Brasil. Coco, Chano and Eddy Vega from Cusco in Peru have been based in Newcastle for 19 years and play regularly to the crowds in the city centre. All four now count themselves as adopted Geordies and are thrilled that the region now has a festival to celebrate their culture.
Bocão taught the basics of capoeira to a group of girls and boys taken from Year 1 through to Year 6 and soon had them practising on each other and loving every minute of it! Coco and the band followed with a demonstration of the traditional musical instruments they use, and of course the pan pipes. The children all wanted to join in and Coco soon had a new band set up and all playing along in time. He followed this with a salsa class for some wiling volunteers. Once the children had learnt the basic steps for a mambo, Coco paired up the boys and girls and after some initial reluctance to hold hands, they were soon dancing away in time to the music.
Liz Donaldson Head Teacher at Christ Church School, was delighted with the performances. “The children were really excited. They already enjoy their Spanish lessons but to be able to bring this kind of colour and excitement into the classroom is fantastic.”
Festival director, Nik Barrera said: “The festival is for everyone and we really wanted to involve the children of the region - bringing the school’s Spanish lesson to life was great fun and also really educational.”
See Apu at the Monument on Thursday 13th July from 12 noon for one of the free lunchtime music sessions. You can also join Coco for his highly popular salsa classes and some great Latin beats at The Cooperage from 8.30pm on Wednesday 12th or Friday 14th July. You can join in with Bocão and learn some capoeira at the family picnic in Saltwell Park from 12 to 3pm on Saturday 8th July and listen to Banda Odara at the Carnival! at Mr Lynch the following week on 15th July from 2pm.