Filipino Friends: Sharing Hearts by Sharing Dance!
The PERFECT show for your school’s Multicultural Celebration Week, AAPI month (May), or Filipino American History Month (October) – with interactive movement, hidden history, and 2 dance cultures for THE PRICE OF ONE! Give your students the real deal with Miss Coco, a Filipina-Spanish-American dance professor with real heart.
In-Person or Virtual/Online for Schools and Camps!
Age Range: PreK-12Request Pricing & Dates
Hidden history?! Learn from Miss Coco’s unique background as a Filipina-Spanish-American dance professor as she jump-starts the hearts of your students! When they share her stage, they learn the exact dance steps that were shared between 2 clashing cultures long ago, during the 333 years when Spain colonized the Philippine islands.* Delight as your students gain insight into how dance was the heartfelt key to creating productive bonds that are still strong and fruitful today.
Teachers – A Pre-Show Treasure Hunt List to SPARK Conversation!
Ask students to look for these 6 items that Miss Coco will use during the show. Afterwards, ask them –
Was this item from Spain or from The Philippines?
What was interesting about each item?
- Coconut shell halves
- The Spain flag
- Candles in little glasses
- Castanets (made out of what?)
- Bamboo poles
- Red Flamenco shoes
Why Did Dance Work?
Dance was a highly social activity in both cultures. It was how people celebrated, met new friends, overcame hard times, and even trained for battle. At first, the other country’s dances looked very strange. But as they watched each other at parties and parades, they noticed… similarities.
Jumping over sticks was like jumping over baskets. Clam shells and coconut shells were both good instruments. Stomping felt good. They started sharing steps, sharing dance partners, and sharing… hearts.
Your students will hold their heads higher, stand taller, and laugh louder – and with more heart – during their 45 minutes with Miss Coco. She bursts onto your stage/MPR/classroom in authentic attire from Spain and The Philippines, to curated traditional music from both countries. Miss Coco gets everyone to join in, move, and interact with her custom-made dance props – be sure to spot her travel-friendly bamboo poles and bespoke coconut shell vest – as she traces the places where dance WAS the peaceful and joyful intersection between cultures. Let’s feel how SHARING DANCE STILL IS SHARING HEARTS!
*As an MD and a lifelong performer, Miss Coco is fully capable and completely happy to accommodate special populations within your school. Let’s discuss how she can serve your unique needs!
NOTE: As an artist-graduate of the respected Brehm Residency at Fuller Seminary, Coco can tailor her presentation to faith-based schools. Many of the shared celebrations directly involved the Catholic Church and the indigenous religions, and the core of Flamenco music comes from Jewish lament.
About Miss Coco:
Coco Cabrel, MD, brings 30 years of Flamenco, anatomy, and neurophysiology to your students – even longer for Philippine dance! She has taught at every level – from pre-school through grad school and beyond – as a professional Flamenco dancer/choreographer AND a teaching medical doctor and academic department chair. A lifelong professional performer, she’s an award-winning expert in blending student and teacher engagement with data-based pedagogy… with such grace and humor, no one realizes they just learned a ton of life lessons.
Coco, a graduate of Northwestern University’s prestigious Honors Program in Medical Education, has appeared as “The Flamenco-Fit MD” on nationally syndicated “The List TV” 6X, ABC10’s “Your California Life” twice, KTLA’s “LA Unscripted” twice, and Spectrum News1 LA. She’s been a speaker for conferences including Digital Hollywood and Go All In Fest, and she’s been interviewed for many podcasts and magazines. Her podcast interview for Northwestern Intersections was voted a Top 3 Podcast of 2020 by Northwestern University alumni around the world.
And check out the “Miss Coco Flamenco Show” featured segment on nationally syndicated “Spirit of Innovation: Arts Across America,” which includes interviews with educators like you on how they secured and used their state arts funding (originally aired May, 2024):
