123 Andrés bringing bilingual children's performance to Midwest Theater Thursday
Grammy-nominated duo, 123 Andrés, promises a show that will get kids and families singing and dancing when they perform Thursday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m., at the Midwest Theater. G Grammy-nominated group, 123 Andrés, will perform bilingual children's performance at the Midwest Theater in Nebraska on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. The performance is part of a new season aimed at families with children. The group, which pairs Spanish and English performers André Salguero and Christina Sanabria, performs songs in Spanish and American English. The duo, who live in Virginia and grew up in Spanish-speaking families, have found success with their performances, including a Latin Grammy for Best Children's Music Album in 2016 and a Parents' Choice Gold Award. They have also been recognized with praise from Billboard and have released children's albums and children's books. Currently, they are producing a podcast with PBS Kids called "Jamming Out on the Job," which aims to teach kids about different jobs and careers.
Được phát hành : 2 năm trước qua maunette loeks, MAUNETTE LOEKS Star-Herald trong
Kids are sure to enjoy an upcoming show at the Midwest Theater. Grammy-nominated group, 123 Andrés, promises a show that will get kids and families singing and dancing when they perform Thursday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m., at the Midwest Theater.
The 123 Andrés performance pairs Andrés Salguero and his wife, Christina Sanabria, in performances of songs in Spanish and English. The performance is among the new additions to this year's season that are aimed specifically at families with children.
"This is our full-time work," Sanabria told the Star-Herald. "...We have performed from New York to California, Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Florida, coast to coast and corner to corner. This is our very first time in Nebraska though, so it's super exciting."
Salguera and Sanabria, who live in Virginia, grew up in Spanish-speaking families and have now found success with their performances, including earning a Latin Grammy for Best Children's Music Album in 2016. They have been recognized with other awards, including a Parents' Choice Gold Award, and praise from Billboard.
The roots of the group start with their own childhoods. Salguero grew up in Bogota, Colombia, learning to play the guitar from his father and studied clarinet at a conservatory. Sanabria grew up in Kansas City, in a Spanish-speaking family hailing from Colombia.
The couple branched into performing for children by accident, Sanabria explains.
"(Andrés) thought that his path was going to be a college professor, you know, in academia, teaching clarinet,' she said. "He was hired in a band, just as kind of a side gig, and he showed up and realized it was for kids. He not only had to play the clarinet and the saxophone as part of this band, but he also had to do silly things like pant like a dog, do funny dance moves and he realized that he liked this, finding his inner ham, right?"
Sanabria, who earned a master's in education, found herself also interested performing. As a fifth and sixth grade teacher, she said, "I've always had a passion for education and kind of the intersection of theater." Many of the "very captivating" teachers "bring so much energy and show a curiosity for learning" that she said it became her mission to teach through music.
As Salguero performed, she said, he became "more and more in love with it" and after deciding he had "found his calling," he created his own project, leading to 123 Andrés.
Today, 123 Andrés has realized eight children's albums and have been featured on outlets like NPR, Sirius XM's Kids Place Live and many others. They have even released children's books.
Currently, Salguera and Sanabria are even producing a podcast with PBS Kids called "Jamming Out on the Job." Sanabria shared that the podcast takes inspiration from their touring, with the couple teaching kids about people and their jobs that they encounter.
There are eight episodes in the first season of the podcast, which launched in September, and eight more will start to be released in January. Every episode centers around a problem that the couple must solve on tour. In a recent episode, their problem centered on arriving at the airport and being unable to find Andrés' guitar. Through that, they talk to employees at the airport, such as the airport operations manager, and get to learn about the fascinating things they do and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the airport.
"The goal of the podcast is for kids to learn about different jobs and careers," she said, getting to ask questions about things they may be interested and learn about the diversity in jobs and industries throughout the country. Every episode has original music, including a song about the job, and special effects.
In 123 Andrés' live performances, Sanabria said, you'll find "...it brings all of the clowning and fun loving, like mistakes that make kids say 'nooooo' or silly dance moves, and all of that energy (and adds) our own special uniqueness — which is that we speak Spanish and English."
In addition, she said, they also have incorporated American Sign Language (ASL) into their performances, inspired by a large deaf and hard of hearing community where they live.
"We bring this idea that we sing to celebrate not only our own Spanish heritage, but we also celebrate learning all languages and learning about lots of different kinds of people," she said.
While in Scottsbluff, 123 Andrés will also perform for students at Lincoln Elementary in Gering. Sanabria said she enjoys school performances as they "read the room" and adjust their performances based on the children. The Midwest Theater has also worked to bring a bilingual storytime to the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library, though 123 Andrés won't be a part of those events.
Tickets for children 12 and under are free, with adults at $10 each. Call the Midwest Theater Box Office, to reserve your tickets. Tickets will be available at the door.
Families will also be interested in another upcoming performance, Jamie Allan, iMagician, coming to the Midwest Theater on Nov. 9. Visit midwesttheater.com for more about Allan's upcoming performance and other shows this season.