THE rhythm of the samba came to Middlesbrough's Riverside stadium yesterday.
More than 260 schoolchildren played instruments ranging from surdos or large drums to tambourines and danced the afternoon away.
The event represented the culmination of a year's work in 12 Teesside primary schools and one comprehensive.
It was organised by the Education Action Zone in Eston, Grangetown, South Bank and Normanby. EAZ music co-ordinator Kel Dennis and international percussionist Simone Rebello worked with the children for the second year running.
The young musicians split into four groups, distinguishable in their blue, yellow, green and purple baseball caps, watched by their parents in the main stand.
Mr Dennis said: "Samba involves a lot of children - not everyone wants to play the trumpet or violin - and it means we can involve dozens of children, all working together.
"It's a good team-building exercise and it definitely raises their self-esteem."
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