Carnaval: Streets of Love
"Carnaval: Streets of Love added a charming original story to the engaging music, spectacular choreography, and exquisite costumes that have characterized the production over the years. Frank and Pilar’s commitment to cultural authenticity and diversity, combined with their professionalism, passion, and desire to educate audiences of all ages, have brought this show to a level of world-class excellence, while continuing to engage and delight our own community." Reeve Love (Ph.D), Performing Arts Director, National Hispanic Cultural Center
The Concept of Carnaval
Four carnavals, three fates, two soulmates, and one wedding take to the streets in this dynamic parade of passion and dreams.
Carnaval: Streets of Love
Carnaval is an original concept, created solely by Frank and Pilar Leto. It is an astounding production that blends original music and vibrant dance, celebrating the Carnaval traditions of Cuba, Trinidad, New Orleans and Brazil. It includes original music, choreography and costume design. This music and dance narrative began as an annual performance extravaganza at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico with hopes of transforming the show onto a Broadway/Off-Broadway stage. Frank and Pilar Leto are ready to relinquish their creation to a playwright/producer/director, who will have the liberty to modify and enhance this powerful and celebratory story into a musical unlike any other. Carnaval is a true celebration of diversity with uplifting music, spectacular costumes, dazzling choreography, enchanting sets and of course AMOR!
The Story
Carnaval: Streets of Love is a classic tale of how true love transcends the boundaries of time and circumstance. Carmella, a beautiful dancer from Cuba, and Derek, a talented musician from Trinidad, are bound together in childhood by the sacred beads of Yemaya, but there is an ocean between them. When fate finally throws them together in New Orleans, against the dazzling backdrop of Mardis Gras, both beads and sparks fly as they share one electric night of dance and dreams. Forced to part ways, they reunite a year later in Brazil, where Samba and Capoeira kick off a showdown between gods & mortals that weaves the final threads of their destiny.
The Music
All the music and lyrics are written by Frank Leto. The music was composed to represent the diverse/distinct/unique celebrations and folkloric traditions of Carnaval in Cuba, Trinidad, New Orleans, and Brazil. Musical styles and dances from Cuba, Trinidad, New Orleans, and Brazil. Drawing from both past and present traditions to respectfully honor the roots of the styles and cultures it features, this show celebrates the power of love in the best form possible: Carnaval.
The Choreography
Pilar Leto was the original choreographer. She utilized her knowledge of traditional dance styles as well as the popular Carnaval styles to create choreography that pays homage to the manger cultures represented. The dance styles range from Afro Cuban Santeria, which is majestic and powerful, to the calypso, which is fun and lively, to the Brazilian samba, which is celebratory and rejuvenating, creating an uplifting cultural delight from beginning to end. In addition to these styles, the story provides space for a choreographer to incorporate the forms of salsa, breakdance, jazz dance, and modern dance.
The Instruments
Like the hit musical Fela, the full band with a horn section will be seen by the audience throughout the entire performance. The audience will see and hear an array of percussion instruments, including steel drums (made from the bottoms of a 55 gallon oil barrels), the iron (break drum of an automobile), wash board, the bata drums (the sacred drums of Santeria), the smartened (two frying pans mounted to a board), congas, the berimbau (a one-stringed bow instrument) and the instruments of the bacteria, the cuica (friction drum), surdo, agogo, tambourine, panderio, ganza, caixa, repique, reco reco and apt. These instruments will help provide the cultural authenticity and excitement of the Carnaval held throughout the world!
The Costumes
The costumes represent the cultures and countries featured in the show. The Cuba costumes are modest and earthy, drawing directly from tradition. The Trinidad costumes will transport you to the Islands. The Miami scenes will pop with contemporary fashions of the day. The Mardis Gras costumes will feature traditional parade styles alongside contemporary street fashions. Lastly, the costumes of Brazil range from simple to decadent. Everyone loves the beautiful samba dancers and with their feathered headdresses, high heeled shoes and provocative sequined bikinis, they will steal your heart!
The Set
The show travels through five different locations: Cuba, Trinidad, Miami, New Orleans, and Rio de Janeiro.
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Havana, Cuba: These scenes are set in the Havana Vieja, and feature the unique elements of this old, Spanish style neighborhood.
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Port of Spain, Trinidad: These scenes are set in a panyard next to a shantytown community near the beach.
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Miami, Florida: These scenes are both beach side and inside of a modern dance studio, featuring…
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New Orleans, Louisiana: These scenes take place on Bourbon Street and feature the old French Quarter houses lining the Mardi Gras parade route; the characters also swing into a swanky jazz club.
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: These scenes take place in front of the famous Catholic church, Our Lady of the Rosary of the Blacks, and the open market place in Largo do Pelourinho. Vendors sell their wares while street musicians and dancers perform on the cobblestone streets lined with colorful apartment buildings.
