Carnaval 2024: Comunidade Info

Frank and Pilar Leto are celebrating their 19th year of bringing Carnaval to the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Carnaval is a celebration of life that occurs just before the Catholic observance of Lent, a time of fasting, praying and abstinence. Carnaval revelers give thanks for the blessings in their lives through public events such as parades and street parties. Elaborate costumes and masks allow people to set aside their everyday individuality and experience a heightened sense of social unity. Participants while celebrating with music and dance often indulge in excessive consumption of alcohol, meat and other foods and activities that will be forgone during the upcoming Lent.

This year’s Carnaval 2024: Comunidade,
Poprtuguese for community will pay tribute to the many dancers, musicians, actors and sponsors from the Albuquerque community who has made these unique Carnaval performances possible. Many of these performers were very young when enlisted to participate in this annual event and have since continued pursuing dance and or musical careers.
Local businesses will also be acknowledged for their support and sponsorship that help provide costumes, stage props, musical arrangements and food for the entertainers.

Frank and Pilar are especially grateful for their partnership with the NHCC, for hosting this annual event; their relationship goes all the way back to performing at the Centers’ grand opening in 2000.

This years Celebration will again invite the audience to experience the rhythms, dances and costumes of Carnaval traditions from Brazil (Samba & Bossa Nova), Trinidad (Calypso & Soca w/ steel pan), Cuba (Comparsa & Salsa) and Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Jazz, Blues and Zaydeco). Original music, costumes and choreographies, make this production a one of a kind!

Musicians:
Frank Leto - vocals, steel pan & percussion
John Bartlit – drums
Howard Cloud – bass
Daniel Ward – guitar
Steve Figueroa – keyboards
Tomas White – percussion
Kanoa Kaluhiwa – saxophone
Chris Buckholz – trombone
Special guest Tony Quinones - congas

Dancers:
Odara Dance ensemble – Pilar Leto, Evelyn Linzy, Victoria Gutierez, Sabrina Carabajol and Darrin Visaraga with Amina Dunn, Natalia Casiano

Carlota Quinones & Friends
Elyse Fahey & Friends from Studio Sway
Trey and Vanessa Viiiceon