The Nation’s children display their creativity during the second edition of the Children’s Carnival Parade

The Nation’s children display their creativity during the second edition of the Children’s Carnival Parade
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 5, 2013

For the second consecutive year, the Ministry of Culture offered the nation’s children the opportunity to be part of the cultural tradition of the Dominican people through the “National Children’s Carnival Parade”. The successful parade took place on the morning of Saturday, March 2nd, at the Avenida de la Salud.

A value-laden artistic project, full of beautiful coloring, contagious music and a message of caring for the environment, was the main attraction of the second edition of the parade, which took place at the Mirador del Sur Park in the National District.

The Minister of Culture, José Antonio Rodríguez, welcomed the participants, emphasizing the importance of children coming into contact with the elements of our identity and carnival characters.

A value-laden artistic project, full of beautiful coloring, contagious music and a message of caring for the environment, was the main attraction of the second edition of the parade, which took place at the Mirador del Sur Park in the National District.

After the National Anthem was performed, the Children’s Carnival Parade started with the King and Queen of the Children’s Carnival, Kanqui (Kelvin Núñez) and María Moñito (Paula Disla), who were paraded in antique cars and were followed byclose to 70 dance troupes and floats.

Adult people and parents with their children gathered at the parade, without regard for how hot the sun was. They enjoyed the presentations, and danced and cheered every each time the small carnival participants went on stage.

From ten in the morning until past noon, the public focused on enjoying the presentations from the various districts of the city of Santo Domingo,as well as those from the inland towns of the Dominican Republic.

The following troupes participated in the Carnival parade:Raíces de Carnaval, Reciclaje y Protección al Medio Ambiente, Orgullo Dominicano, El jardín de las Mariposas, El Caballo de Troya, Los Astronautas, La Orquesta del Futuro, Fantasía Azteca, Sangre Africana, and Por amor al Carnaval, among others.

A judging panel made of the following experts in the field:Jasón Delgado, Basilio Nova, Tía Nancy, Científico Loco, a representative of the National Council for Children (CONANI – Consejo Nacional de la Niñez), and the Ministry of Culture, was responsible for the selection of the winning children’s carnival projects. The awards consisted of 40,000 pesos for the first places, 20,000 pesos for the second places, and 10,000 pesos for the third places, plus a grand prize of 75,000 pesos.

The participating categories were: “Traditional,” “Historical,” “Devils,” “Creativity,” “Popular,” “Individual,” and “Ali Baba.” The winners will be announced soon by the Ministry of Culture.

The National Carnival Parade is scheduled for this coming Sunday, on Avenida George Washington, in the National District.