Watch in slow motion the commission’s change of clothes in front of the star of the 3rd millennium
The two boys who were the highlight of the Third Millennium Star Parade spoke to the g1 about the feeling of parading for the first time. “I’ve now learned samba. It was a dream come true, a magical night,” said Henrique Augusto da Silva, 11 years old. “I never thought to take part in the parade. It was really cool, I was very happy,” said Leonardo Vasconcellos Oliveira, 8 years old. The two are residents of Freguesia do Ó in the North Zone of São Paulo.
The boys took turns in a quick costume swap. (See Henrique’s participation in slow motion in the video above). To achieve this effect, the children had to train a lot: rehearsals began in October and became almost daily around the parade.
1 of 1 Henrique Augusto da Silva, 11 years old, was the highlight of the Third Millennium Star Parade — Photo: Personal Archive Henrique Augusto da Silva, 11 years old, was the highlight of the Third Millennium Star Parade — Photo: Personal Archive
The school’s plot was a tribute to humor, and the frontline committee the boys were on had the theme “the cure for your pain.” With a “Grajaú” number plate, the car had a portal from which a poor black family from Grajaú came out with sad faces. Then a figure appeared, threatening everyone with a sword. Dressed in brightly colored clothes, the clowns “tore the head off” of this villain. And from inside the body, a smiling person appeared. Eventually, the family’s clothes were exchanged for brightly colored ones. And then joy reigned.
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Henrique’s mother, Heloísa Helena Silva, said that he was very shy and had never played samba in his life. It was a friend of the school’s theater director, Régis Santos, who recommended that Henrique take part in the parade, and the boy accepted the challenge. “He agreed and we started rehearsing together at home.”
Heloísa had already lined up for Rosas de Ouro and had already taken her son to accompany her in the technical rehearsals. “He was charmed, he was always passionate. He grew up wanting to perform.” The family is very fond of samba. Ever since he was a little boy, Henrique had generally played percussion instruments, except that he hadn’t ventured into samba.
“It was just a little hard to learn [a coreografia], but then it was in the lullaby. As it was my first save I was very nervous but very happy. I was very emotional. When the parade ended, I burst into tears.”
The boy’s plan is to perform again at the next carnival but this time in the drums of a samba school.
Leonardo, who shared choreography with Henrique, was also very emotional during the parade. His mother, Alcione Vasconcellos Oliveira, said that he kept saying, “Mom, I’m very happy!”
Quick clothes changes and crazy characters: The Front Commission Estrela do Terceira Milênio puts on a choreographed show
Unlike Henrique, Leonardo already had samba on his feet. Since he was 4 years old, he has been taking dance lessons from his mother alongside school. But he had never performed before.
“I’ve already been to the Sambódromo, but the parade was my first time. Seeing the audience screaming was very scary and emotional. I really enjoyed it,” said Leonardo.
Alcione said her son’s participation was a real success. The family comes from the carnival, everyone was already up and it was a party to see Leonardo at a school highlight. For them, the plot of the third millennium was very topical.
“It was always a dream for him to join this party and be a part of this party, which is a black culture party. The storyline that showed the third millennium is what most black families live with their troubles on a daily basis. Public festivals like the carnival offer an opportunity to be happy.”
Régis Santos, who directed the school’s choreography, said he was proud to have used a little illusionism and lots of color to honor those on the periphery.
“The Third Millennium comes from the extreme southern zone of São Paulo, a very simple region. And we wanted to show that humor can ease pain, even more so in the postpandemic era. That’s why the family goes gray in the parade, and with humor, irreverence, and fun, it becomes colorful.”
Régis reveals nothing at all about the secret of the boys’ rapid change of clothes. The illusionist Edson Iwassaki, who asked for his tricks to be kept secret, helped with the preparation of the act. The clothes were made by the ateliers Fábio Namatame and Bruno Oliveira, specialized in theater and musicals. “It was an incredible performance, a bet by the board,” said Régis.