Mark has been the only student this year to earn Camilo’s fist-bump award for Outstanding Beginner’s Talent.
We took a 2-day field trip to a small community of Afro-Peruvians, descendants of the slave trade. A three-hour ride south of Lima, in the small community of El Carmen, we were warmly hosted by the family of Camilo Ballumbrosio, a well-known Peruvian musician and percussionist. When the slave masters took away the slaves’ drums, they invented new musical outlets, including zapateo (like tap dancing) and the cajón, a wooden box one sits on while ‘drumming,’ and we got to experience both cultural traditions during our visit.
Our first stop in town was the central park, where a visitor can inevitably find a group of kids waiting to show their zapateo skills. Later all the students got a cajón lesson from the master himself, Camilo. As the sun set we had some free time before dinner, and whenever possible this SST group looks to bridge the cultures with sport activities.
Later we’ll post another entry for more cultural and historical activities during the rest of Thursday evening and Friday.
Vanessa was surprised with a cake on her birthday.In the central park a group of kids showed us what “zapateo” is.The most accomplished member of the troupe.Camilo starts a cajon lesson with the first half of the group.A correctly-built cajon has has a plywood face fastened with screws.Camilo played a basic rhythm and had the students follow.The students concentrated very, very hard on getting the rhythm right …… but often everyone ended up laughing at the results.Then the other half of the students got a turn.The 2nd group was quicker to laugh at themselves.Mark has been the only student this year to earn Camilo’s fist-bump award for Outstanding Beginner’s Talent.Then Camilo did a cajon solo, where his hands moved faster than the speed of light.The guys practiced levitating the ball with their minds. It drives the other teams crazy.The street’s team captain picked sides. He breaks the bad news to Tanner and Isaac about not making the cut.Team Real El Carmen is ready to win.Note that one team made plans while the other team grandstands for the camera. Guess who won.Real El Carmen’s meticulous planning pays off again.The futbol continued and the women got a round of volleyball practice going.Maria’s job was to be the net.Dusti teaches the guys how to juggle in sandals.
