From June 13-15, Disney Village will host a new edition of Fiesta Latina – a vibrant celebration of Brazilian culture, held as part of the Brazil–France 2025 Season. For three days, experience the rhythms of samba, bossa nova and Brazilian percussion in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. To find out more, we spoke to Richard Coléon, the Producer of this free, festive event.
Hello Richard Coléon. Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your role at Disneyland Paris?
Hi, I joined Disneyland Paris before it opened on March 1, 1992 as a sound engineer. I worked on the first Videopolis show, Rock Shock, and then went on tour across Europe to promote the first Christmas season. It was after this tour, in December 1992, that I started to work at Disney Village where I spent a number of years working at the Legend of Buffalo Bill show, and then at the various stages that were set up around Disney Village. I haven’t left Disney Village since, holding various positions including Technical Manager, Production Manager and Show Manager. In December 2019, I joined Disney Live Entertainment as the Executive Producer.
I’m the producer of Disney Halloween Festival, the Halloween season in Disneyland Park and the whole show part at Disney Village. My role is to bring a show to life based on the stage director’s vision, ensuring it is produced under the best possible conditions and upholding our high standards.
Today, my role is to ensure that each member of my team has the resources needed to produce the show, as well as coordinating the teams and ensuring that each step of the production runs smoothly.
At Disney Village, there are three major seasons during the year: Halloween, Christmas and the summertime. We also have year-round live concerts and DJ parties every Friday and Saturday on the Billy Bob’s Country Western Saloon stage. In total, we have more than 100 live concerts a year.
This year, Fiesta Latina is part of the Brazil–France 2025 Season. Can you tell us more about this new edition?
Fiesta Latina is a longstanding event at Disney Village that showcases Latino music and dance. This year is the Year of Brazil in France, so the focus will be on Brazilian music and dance, with live concerts, dance demonstrations, DJ parties and other themed events. There will also be a live salsa concert at Billy Bob’s Country Western Saloon.
Everybody can come to Disney Village from June 13-15. Can you tell us more about the program you have planned for these 3 days?
As always at Disney Village, admission is free including to the concerts at Billy Bob’s Country Western Saloon that weekend.
There will be two concerts on Friday, June 13 – the first at 8:30 p.m. featuring the group Zalinde Forro Iewa, playing traditional Brazilian music, followed by Cuban salsa singer Haïla y su Orquesta at 10:00 p.m., who will be singing two emblematic Brazilian songs with Leo Middea. The evening will close with Latin music legend DJ Ron Anka.
On Saturday, June 14, there will be two concerts by Brazilian artists Leo Middea, a rising star from Rio de Janeiro, at 8:30 p.m., and the group Ayom, a clever blend of Brazilian and African influences, at 10:00 p.m. To round off the evening, Brazilian DJ Asturia will light up the dance floor.
Live concerts will be held at Billy Bob’s Country Western Saloon. Are there any other events planned outside the restaurant?
This year, for Disney Village’s ‘Summer Rhythms’ season, from May 29 to September 7, we’ve set up a stage in the artists’ square between the Earl of Sandwich and Rainforest Café restaurants, with concerts every Friday and Saturday, as well as musical street entertainment from Friday to Sunday, and a DJ Lounge on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
As part of our Fiesta Latina program, there will be a concert by the group Pagode Do Erinegao, a samba group, a Capoeira demonstration and a percussion workshop for children on this stage on Friday, June 13, starting at 6:00 p.m.
On Saturday, June 14, the evening kicks off at 7:00 p.m. with a concert by the Ben Bara Duo – a project led by renowned Brazilian percussionist Jonathan Edo accompanied by a DJ – followed by a Capoeira demonstration and a samba performance by the Samba Crew troupe. Then, on Sunday, June 15 at 5:00 p.m, children can join in with a special percussion workshop by Zalindê Batucada Kids. The weekend will be led by Alex Lima as Master of Ceremonies, a talented host, dancer and choreographer who has worked with us for many years.
During these three days, more than ten artists will be taking to the stage, bringing the rhythm of Brazil to Disney Village. It’s a great program that’s going to bring the Disney Village to life and a great challenge for you!
Yes, it’s a great challenge. I have a fantastic production team, who will be working together with all the technical teams at Disney Village, including sound, lighting, machinery and stage management, who do an extraordinary job, as well as the artistic and communications teams. Planning and organizing a show involves a wide range of people and professions, each playing an equally vital role.
Can you tell us more about the link between Disneyland Paris and Brazil–France 2025?
Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decided to organize a France-Brazil Season in 2025 to strengthen the countries’ bilateral relationship, which celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2025.
The season offers more than 300 cultural events from April to September in more than 50 towns and cities across France. Fiesta Latina is part of the official Brazil–France 2025 program. The aim of this event is to celebrate the richness and diversity of Brazilian culture, while reaffirming Disney Village’s commitment to presenting a diverse program of music, sports, and cultural events that reflect both national and international themes.