Fronteiras Explorers

Monday 15th

Our first week has been pretty hectic but we are getting into a routine and now familiar with our surroundings. We have had our first few workshops at the Fronteira Aberta (Centro de Tradicoes Gauchas) - a beautiful old hall usually used for evening social gatherings. Faded photos of past folk dance groups and old directors adorn the walls and a moth-eaten stuffed cow stands patiently in the corner.

Fronteiras Aberta

Past Livramento folk dance queens. Check. Out. Those. Dresses

Towards the end of the week the rain arrived. It literally torrented the whole day long and for a short while we found ourselves stranded at Flavia's not wanting to wade through it to get back to the Centro de Tradicoes Gauchas.

And then the rain came....

On saturday morning we drew together some of the strands of what we had explored that week and trooped along to the school for the barter. Some of the kids from the school pitched up and after we did our showing basically had a bit of a disco. We cranked up the stereo system and they taught us how to dance cumbia whilst I taught a basic ceilidh dance. It was super fun and got me thinking lots about potentially trying to do a bit of a ceilidh/cumbia mash-up - i.e ceilidh dance but with cumbia steps thrown in.

The barter!

Ceilidh meets cumbia at the barter

On saturday night we joined Tanise and her crew at her parents for dinner. Her mum had made some amazing food - membrillo, baked glazed pumpkin, spicy sausages, dips - after a week of healthy but bland hospital food we were in total heaven. We also got our first swig of proper capirinha - dangerously moreish. After the food Tanise's bunch brought the entertainment with some pretty hilarious dancing. Its sounds cliche but they all move so well out here. Andy then surprised us all with his double-jointed street performance act. Turns out he's quite the showman.

Dance-off at Tanise's

Sunday - our first day off. A morning of sunbathing followed by a trip to the local lake .... I think half of Livramento had the same idea.

Day at the lake

The evening was more than surreal. We went to see a Brazilian pipe band playing Scottish music in a Uruguyan Duty Free shopping centre car park. Welcome to the 21st century.