Prepare yourself for a Saturday full of colorful dancing and cultural merriment as KQED Headquarters will host the annual Carnaval King and Queen (Dance) Competition this April 30th.
Beginning at 11:30 a.m., the new KQED Live will be energized with the Bay Area's most talented samba, salsa, soca dancers and more, all competing for a chance to become Carnaval's official ambassadors.
By being crowned King or Queen, the winner will have the honorable opportunity to lead the Mission District's televised 44th Carnaval Grand Parade on Sunday, May 29, as well as take home $500.
This year's theme is “Colores de Amor,” and you can guarantee this dance-off will be replete with the most vibrant contestants. This uniquely colorful competition will be judged by a panel of the Bay Area's most talented and experienced artists and dancers within the Carnaval community. Each judge will be eagerly scoring the competitors on their techniques, creative costumes, Carnaval spirit, and ability engage the audience, all while properly channeling the authentic moves of Latin American and Caribbean traditions.
Following this entertaining and vibrant event will be a panel discussion at 7 p.m. called Creating the Future of Carnaval San Francisco. The newly crowned King and Queen will perform a winning dance before leaders of the Memorial Day weekend event sit down with KQED en Español host Carlos Cabrera-Lomeli.
Joining Cabrera-Lomeli will be Carnaval San Francisco’s new executive director Rodrigo Ehecatl Duran, the previous executive director of Carnaval and current CEO of Cultura y Arte Nativa de las Americas, or CANA, Roberto Y. Hernandez, and more, all to discuss Carnaval's 44-year legacy, future, and impact on the local Latinx community.
Carnaval began as a community event by local musicians, artists, and residents to gift San Francisco with the colorful amusement and festivities of Latin American and Caribbean culture. Today Carnaval San Francisco has become the largest annual multicultural celebration in California.
KQED Live is the proud host of this lively occasion, introducing its new multiplatform outreach by also livestreaming the event from within their newly refurbished Commons at 2601 Mariposa Street.
KQED Live dedicates itself to amplifying local journalism and community stories, presenting an inclusive space for those to gather, get informed, and express themselves, all to better the greater Bay Area's knowledge and awareness.
Tickets to the King and Queen Competition are $30 in-person, and $10 online, available for purchase here.
$10 in-person tickets to the panel, which is free if watching online, can be bought here, and all other further information can be accessed on Carnaval's main site.
You won't want to miss all the colorful dance moves!
Photography by: Courtesy of Carnaval San Francisco
