Come and enjoy the full Carnaval
Contingent Video, Saturday June 25th / 4:00 pm



Check out our Photo Collection of Carnaval 2011

Watch our Carnaval Rehersal routine,
every Wednesday and Saturday. JOIN TODAY!

T-shirt Pre-sale

manuel suarez Choreographer: Manuel Suarez
Rhythms: Afro-Cuban, Latin Popular Dance,
Timba Francesa

CARNAVAL REHEARSALS @ MCCLA
Registration $20, Class $5

Wednesdays - Studio A, 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5.00.
Saturdays - Studio B, 3:15 to 4:45p.m.

OUTDOOR REHEARSALS - at Edison Charter Academy
[22nd and Dolores Streets, entrance on 22nd]
Saturday May 21st, Sunday May 22nd,
and Saturday May 28th, at [1:00PM]






CARNAVAL PROPS & DECORATION WORKSHOPS

Download Registration Form here

Come make your own Carnaval props or help us make the contingent's "farolas" and decorations for the float.
Saturdays - Studio D, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m - $5 per class
If you are making your own there will be a $10 (one time only) material fee.

CARNAVAL T-SHIRTS ON SALE (April 15th).
Al Monitors, parents, and volunteers must buy and wear the MCCLA Carnaval t-shirt in order to participate with the Contingent in the Parade. No exceptions! Price: $15

COSTUMES: Sketches to be available on April 13th and 16th Rehearsals.
CHANCLETAS: (In progress)

WE NEED:
MORE DANCERS, AND MALE DANCERS.
VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH FLOAT CONSTRUCTION & DECORATION - call Norma Olvera (Volunteer Coord.) at 415-643-2776
DONATIONS - donations of $250+ will be prominently displayed in contingent's "Thank You Banner"
SPONSORS - sponsorships (businesses / companies) of $1,000 to $5,000 will be included in website, on the float and on video credits - Tell your friends and contacts

Manuel Suarez is a performer, teacher, choreographer and director of Cuban and Afro-Cuban dance. Manuel began studying music, modern dance, folkloric and popular dance at the Escuela de Arte in Cuba, the Universidad Pedagogica [also in Cuba], and the Universidad de la Habana. As an individual artist he has peformed, instructed, and directed choreography in multiple Cuban, U.S., and international festivals [Spain, Italy, and Denmark, among others]. Mr. Suarez founded his own dance and music company in Cuba, “7 Potencias”. He was the General and Artistic Director of “7 Potencias” until his immigration to the United States in 2000. “Cultu- Cuba” an organization dedicated to the preservation and development of Cuban dance and arts was founded by Manual Suarez in 2001. He continues to teach and perform Cuban, Afro-Cuban, and tap dance styles in the Bay Area, other cities throughout the U.S., and outside of the country. His list of performances and collaborations is extensive. Manuel Suarez was the 2002 Artist Director for MCCLA’s Carnaval Contingent, which won honors in the “Caribbean” division. Mr. Suarez will choregraph the 2011 MCCLA Carnaval contingent, as well as teach the carnaval classes at the Center.

For more information contact: carnaval@missionculturalcenter.org | (415) 821-1155

2011 SAN FRANCISCO CARNAVAL PARADE PRESENTATION:



“AREITO! TIMBA Y CHANCLETAS!”

MCCLA students, staff, and Board, in conjunction with Edison Charter Academy [K- 8], is proud to present its entry for the San Francisco Carnaval Parade, and the 2011 theme of “Live Your Fantasy!” “Areito! Timba Y Chancletas!” is our fantasy of what the Pre-Columbian festivals held throughout the Caribbean region have evolved into. “Areito” is a Taino word used throughout many of the major islands in the Caribbean, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas - -where ever the Taino lived and gathered for their celebrations. These gatherings would last for days according to early chroniclers of the indigenous people of the Americas. The choreography and music of MCCLA’s contingent under the leadership of Manuel I. Suarez will combine elements of indigenous, Afro-Cuban, Latin popular dance, and French tradition. “Tumba Francesa” is the result of the French diaspora to Cuba after the Haitian revolution several centuries ago. “Tumba Francesa” is characterized by stately quadrille style formations and vestments reflective of the French colonies in the late 1700s. “Timba” is the latest hot Cuban dance form and rhythm. The “Chancleta” portion of the presentation is joyfully rhythmical, as the dancers produce their own musical accompaniment with the wooden sandals called “chancletas”. “Chancleta” is not only a wooden sandal, but also a rhythm and a dance from the “Oriente” or eastern part of Cuba. The dress is the traditional “guarachera” – known to the general public as “mambo” shirts, i.e. heavily ruffled sleeves for both men and women. Musicians will play traditional Oriente style “Comparsa” or Carnaval music. The music is characterized by tumbadoras, a specific “campana” or bell rhythm, and a “boku” – a large round drum sustained from the shoulder, typical of the Oriente region of Cuba. The professional musicians will be complemented by drummers from Edison Charter Academy, a K – 8 school located in San Francisco’s Mission District, as well as students from MCCLA.

Come to see the full video on Saturday, June 19th at 2:00pm,
Main Gallery, FREE Admission

MCCLA Carnaval 2010

MI GROOVY BOOGALOO
MCCLA’S CARNAVAL CONTINGENT

FUTURO PICANTE YOUTH BAND
(Jose Leon / Miguel Govea)
MUSIC: LATIN RETRO & BOOGALOO

CHOREOGRAPHERS ELIZABETH SOBERANES / BIANCA COLEMAN
(Latin Dance Grooves)

Mi Groovy Boogaloo
Carnaval 2010 MCCLA Contingent Description (as of 3/15/10)

Thriving in the heart of the Mission District for 33 years, the MCCLA has been a staple in Carnaval San Francisco since it’s early days. MCCLA’s contingent prides itself on being open to people of all ages and dance abilities. This year, we enter our 5th year of partnership with Edison Academic Charter School. Together with youth from our Multicultural Afterschool Program and our adult dancers, we will present “MI GROOVY BOOGALOO” for the 2010 Carnaval SF Parade. Our theme takes a fond look back at the colorful and highly musical latin-retro period of the late 1960s.

Elizabeth Soberanes, former Carnaval Queen and creator of Latin Dance Grooves, is the Lead Choreographer. She is assisted by Co-Choreographer Bianca Coleman and Rehearsal Assistant Eyla Moore. For music, we enjoy the accompaniment of the fabulous MCCLA Youth Orquesta Futuro Picante, under the leadership of musical director Jose Leon, MCCLA Youth Program Coordinator. In this contingent, more than 200 dancers will theatrically boogaloo, cha cha cha, salsa, and sing along the parade route—joyfully following our very chévere float. Dancers will portray go-go dancers and classic 1960s latin-retro characters inspired by fun and funky spy/detective movies of the era.

This year, MCCLA will also join forces with an enthusiastic group of dancers from the historic Mission bi-lingual newspaper El Tecolote, which celebrates its 40thyear Anniversary in 2010.


2010 MCCLA CARNAVAL CONTINGENT DETAILS:

Lead Choreographer: Elizabeth Soberanes
Co-choreographer: Bianca Coleman
Rehearsal Assistant: Eyla Moore
Music: Futuro Picante (Jose Leon & Miguel Govea)

CHARACTERS:

Lucha Chevere
Las Anacaonas
Las Micaelas

Tito Poderes
El Doctor Calvera

Los mimi-mi's (Youth)
Go-Go Dancers

Synopsis:

In 2010, Latin dance and music is in danger of extinction! Our heroes have to travel back in time to rescue the Latin Boogaloo rhythms that flourished during the late 1960's and THEN mysteriously disappeared. They travel back in time to this era to learn to dance to Latin Boogaloo music. When they arrive, the dancers from that era try to distract our heroes with other American dances of the 60's (like the Twist, the Mashed Potato, and the Monkey). But instead, our heroes manage to entice these villains with the beautiful rhythms of Latin music and teach them to dance to our sophisticated Latin beat. Everybody returns to the present to dance a fusion of old and new with a blend of Salsa, Boogaloo and contemporary popular urban dances of today. Latin music is here to stay!

Overall Message:
“Mi Groovy Boogaloo” acknowledges and recognizes the history, influence, richness and sophistication of Latin dance and music, and the importance of keeping our dance, music, traditions and cultural legacies alive and evolving for future generations.