Beyond the stage: How Carnaval fosters growth and legacy
A pair of dancers take center stage during the Salsa performance (Isabella Diaz-Mira | Photo Editor).
Laughter roared, applause erupted, and delighted “oohs” rippled through Edison Theatre during Carnaval this past Friday (March 28) and Saturday (March 29). The Carnaval Executive Board and Washington University’s Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) co-hosted the Carnaval showcase, a yearly celebration of Latine culture.
This year’s show featured 10 acts and 150 students, marking a record-high number of performers. Carnaval’s theme was “Eternidad,” which represented eternity through family bonds and legacies passed down from generation to generation.
“It was important for us to highlight our legacies like where we came from, all of the traditions that we’ve been carrying for generations,” junior and Assistant Director Mariana Quiroz said.
From dance acts like Salsa, to music performances like the Mariachi [and] Chicane Band[s], to the skit that ran throughout the show, it is the people who make Carnaval a community. Senior and lead choreographer of Brazilian Funk Vlad Alarcon joined this community starting his first year of college.