Every day at more or less the same time I can hear rhythmic music from the park out at the front and I know that the local kids are practising capoeira out there under a large shady tree. Combining music and movement, tradition, rhythm, folklore, art and harmony into one overall philosophy, capoeira teaches not only self-defense but also respect for oneself and others, racial tolerance and the benefits of healthy diet and fitness. Listening to the music I know that the kids who are practising their moves out there are not the same ones that will be hanging out round the corner smoking and getting into trouble in the evening.
If you have an active child and are looking for something to occupy him or her then you might want to consider the Terra Firme Canarias capoeira lessons which are subsidised by the ayutamientos of San Miguel de Arona, Guia de Isora and Arona council.
The Terra Firme Canarias Association was established by César Barreto in 2007. As a young boy in Tenerife, César was captivated by the performance of a capoeiria master he saw in a movie. That was the start of a journey that would eventually take him to Brazil to learn the art of this Brazilian traditional fighting skill from internationally recognised Maestre Hulke and in time receive his own capoeira title, ‘Instructor Pescador’ from his teacher.
Capoira Classes are held:
Ayuntamiento San Miguel de Abona (Concejalia de Deportes)
Barrio de Guargacho – Colegio el Monte
Tues & Thurs: 18:15 to 19:45 hrs
Ayuntamiento Guia de Isora (Concejalia de Juventud)
Barrio del Fraile, Centro Juvenil del Fraile
Wed & Fri: 18:00 to 19:45 hrs
Ayuntamiento de Adeje (Concejalia de Deportes)
Barrio de Los Olivos, Complejo de Deportivo Las Torres
Mon & Wed: 16:00 to 17:30 hrs
Academia de Arte Marciales ACAD
Los Cristianos, near the bus station
Tues & Thurs: 18:30 to 20:00 hrs
Academia de Danza
Barrio de Los Olivos, Adeje
Friday: 16:30 to 17:30 hrs
As far as I know these classes are free as they have been subsidised by the various councils mentioned but you can contact the Terra Firme Canarias Association yourself to confirm that and class schedules. You might also want to ask about demonstrations as Instructor Pescador and his team can often be seen at festivals or shows.
Contact Details:
Website: Terra Firme Canarias
Email: terrafirmecanarias@hotmail.com
Tel: 696219518 or 638579432
Capoira – Martial Art or Dance?
However, Lina Vargas has a very different opinion about the medical facilities available in the South of Tenerife especially those which are available to babies and children. Lina’s granddaughter fell ill in the evening and there was neither a paediatric doctor in the South on duty at that time nor an ambulance available to rush the child to the Children’s Unit in the North. Though an ambulance was supposed to be sent at high speed from Candelaria it never came.
Tragically, little Pilar died that night, her tiny body a mass of pin pricks where a non-paediatric nurse and doctor had tried to raise her tiny veins.
Lina blames Pilar’s death on the lack of paediatric facilities in the South and has written the song above to commemorate Pilar and call for change. She feels that if her song is to be heard and more facilites made available round the clock to children in the South, that if one child is saved because of this, then little Pilar will not have died in vain.
Great! My DD has just informed me she has a note from school. Apparently the teachers are on strike again.
I am on the side of the workers – just pay them! – but it does make me wonder how many of the parents cope with this. Working from home, it’s easy enough for me but what happens when you are supposed to grab the guagua to work by 8.00 a.m. but your kid just tells you there is no school tomorrow.
This last scholastic year has been very disrupted by strikes. While I am all for sending the kids to state school that only counts if there is actually a teacher to take the class for the majority of the year.
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