Stimulating samba rhythms and pulsating drums filled the third-floor dance studio of the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, where for nearly two hours, participants in the “Brazilian Carnaval Dance & Percussion” class created a scene of music, dance and inexhaustive stamina as seen in Rio de Janeiro.
The class, taught by Metzi Henriquez and Jose Rivera of the award-winning Brazilian Carnaval dance and percussion company Fogo Na Roupa, unites men and women of various ages and communities in the folkloric, popular and street-style dances of Brazil.
“Over the past 25 years, we have created a family of Carnevalescos,” said Henriquez. “A lot of kids grow up with us–Carnaval has been a part of my life for the last 14 years.”
Around this time of year, many Carnaval groups such as Fogo Na Roupa begin the process of preparing for the annual two-day Festival that combines a parade, music, food and creativity into a unique cultural experience.
While year-round preparations for Carnaval form a lifestyle for many of the contingents, news of financial woes has left both participants and organizers fearful about the state of the festival, which has a 35-year history in the Mission District.
Accrued debt, increasingly rigid organizational and financial requirements imposed by the City and a lack of communication between organizers and Carnaval groups has created uncertainty about whether the event will take place this year.
“We are behind the curve,” said Jim Sowers, president of the San Francisco Cultural Arts Traditions (SFCAT), the organization in charge of putting on Carnaval for the past three years. “We are planning to go forward and are facing some challenges right now.”
While Sowers declined to comment on Carnaval’s budget and financial difficulties, other parties that are involved point to several developments that have put the cultural event at stake in recent years.
“From what it looks like, (the organizers) fell short in doing some of the work that needed to be done,” said Roberto Hernandez, a community activist who has been involved with Carnaval since it first started in 1979. “You have to be fruitful with every penny.”
According to Hernandez, major revenue streams for the largely volunteer-run festival include sponsors, donations, vendor fees and a grant for the arts provided by the city. Planning is a crucial factor in providing financial stability to the festival.
“I feel like a fireman,” said Hernandez, who was contacted by SFCAT to help ensure that the festival will take place. “They were talking about canceling the festival. It’s been part of my whole life–you don’t cancel Christmas, and you can’t cancel Carnaval.”
A Carnaval community meeting is scheduled for March 19 at 7 p.m. at the Brava Theater to gather input from the community, reach out to new sponsors and volunteers and explore other options in an effort to save the traditional event.
“Right now we are trying to figure out the infrastructure and how to do this within 81 days,” Hernandez said. “In terms of our community, you are talking about half a million people coming to the Mission. It helps our mom-and-pop stores, helps promote community businesses, educates us about our cultures–Carnaval has got to happen.”
Isabel Barraza, a former SFCAT board member, estimates that the total cost of Carnaval is close to $400,000. Even if organizers are doing all they can to keep the festival alive, Barraza believes that the current financial hardship partially stems from less support provided by the city.
“I think its very difficult to put on and fundraise for an event with an all volunteer organization and that’s misperceived by folks who are not involved or don’t understand the traditions,” she said. “San Francisco has changed quite a bit and there isn’t as much appreciation for ethnic diversity–it’s easier to get funding for other events rather than Latino events. The city has made it much more difficult for anyone who is involved with Carnaval.”
Henriquez and Rivera agree that changing demographics have compromised the cultural and traditional values of the Mission District, and that a drop in Carnaval participation and “gaps in the crowd” are a reflection of gentrification in the area.
“There’s a lot of fault in the organization, but it’s also a wider issue concerning the new Mission residents and gentrification,” said Henriquez. “It’s affecting cultural festivities on a city level.”