Exuberant crowds of masked revelers, costumed children and
jubilant musicians crowded UCLA’s Kaufman Plaza on Saturday
to celebrate Carnival. The afternoon festival brought to life the
Fowler Museum of Cultural History’s current exhibit on the
worldwide celebration of Carnival through dance, music, food and
art.
Traditionally, Carnival is a three-day celebration of
Bacchanalian excess and indulgence preceding the penitence of the
Lent season. The event is popular worldwide with famous
celebrations in cities such as Sao Paulo, Brazil; Basil,
Switzerland; Venice, Italy; and, of course, New Orleans. However,
many people do not realize the diversity of Carnival traditions.
Each country and region gives a unique flavor to the event. In
England for example, it is known as Shrovetide, and often people
celebrate by eating pancakes. In Quebec, Carnival is the
world’s largest winter extravaganza complete with ice
sculptures, beauty queens and hockey games. In Trinidad and Tobago,
Carnival concludes with a steelpan competition known as National
Panorama. Such diversity of celebration was well represented last
weekend in the festival’s parade.
The first highlight of “Carnaval UCLA” was the
procession of colorful participants who circled Kaufman Plaza with
masked musicians, dancers, giant puppets and stilt performers. One
of the parade’s most surprising elements was the diversity of
participating groups that included Caribbean steel drums, musicians
from Louisiana, local elementary school students and girl
scouts.
After the initial trip around the plaza’s perimeter, each
group was given time to perform in the courtyard’s center.
Kaufman Plaza became an epicenter of dance, music and acrobatics as
the troupes performed for the crowd and competed for a panel of
judges. The groups introduced the crowd to diverse Carnival
traditions from around the world.
The creative costuming was one of the most amazing aspects of
the parade. Honorable mentions for most unusual clothing include
fake pregnancy bumps, retro flight attendant uniforms and an outfit
made entirely of Cheetos bags. Colorful umbrellas, elaborate masks
and Mardi Gras-style beads were the afternoon’s most popular
accessories. Many elementary school students donned masks of their
original design for the parade.
After the parade, local and international artists energized the
crowd with live music. Makina Loca wowed the audience with its
unique fusion of African and Latin rhythms. Swing Brazil then
challenged the audience to get moving as they danced to the lively
music of New Orleans natives, Delta Nove. After marching in the
parade, RätzClique’s drum and fife ensemble showcased
the Carnival customs of Basil, Switzerland. The afternoon concluded
with Caribbean dancing to calypso and soca music.
The afternoon was largely family-oriented with many children
marching in the parade with their parents. Kid-friendly activities
included lantern-, hat- and mask-making workshops as well as face
painting.
In many ways the afternoon’s events gave tribute to the
most popular Carnival in the U.S. ““ Mardi Gras. The rich
traditions of New Orleans and the devastating memory of Hurricane
Katrina were at hand throughout the day. Fowler’s float gave
well-wishers a chance to write the city of New Orleans messages of
support and hope. A Louisiana charity, LA-LA, participated in the
event to raise funds for post-Katrina reconstruction.
““ Catherine Moore
E-mail Moore at
cmoore@media.ucla.edu.