This past weekend, the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) hosted Washington University’s 20th annual Carnaval at the Edison Theatre. The show simultaneously shed light on difficult realities facing the Latin American community and celebrated the vibrant, multidimensional Latinx culture. This year’s show was titled “Home.”

The show highlighted numerous styles of cultural dance and music and explored the often complicated marriages of Latinx students’ home and school lives via a storyline interwoven with the dance and music performances.

Grace Bruton | Student Life

Dancers perform Folklorico at the Association of Latin American Students’ 20th annual Carnaval show, ‘Home,’ at Edison Theatre this weekend. Carnaval celebrated Latin American culture through a variety of dances and musical performances. The show featured a skit which explored themes including Latinx identity.

Nine dance numbers and musical performances were featured throughout the show, varying from more traditional numbers (Mariachi, Folklorico, Salsa and Batucada) to more modern performances (Street Tango, Fusion Belly Dance and Hip Hop). One such performance specifically featured the seniors involved in the show. The accompanying music tracks featured almost solely Latinx artists, including Pitbull, Shakira and J Balvin.

Almost every performance began with a comedic hype video introducing individual performers in that particular group, which repeatedly garnered cheers and support from the energetic audience. Each number was also magnified by vivid, colorful costumes and striking lighting design.

The skit focused on two Washington University students and their struggles in the university community on top of balancing personal ambitions with familial expectations. The skit explored the struggles involved in remaining connected to home amidst growth and transitions as well as the power that communities such as the Latinx community possess in creating new homes in foreign environments.

Grace Bruton | Student Life

Joaquin, sophomore Belal Jamil, and his roommate Blake, freshman Jacqui Escatel.

The show also included a slam performance of British-Somali poet Warsan Shire’s aptly-titled poem, “Home.” The powerful piece portrayed the bleak and often horrific situations faced by refugees when fleeing their home countries. The performance poignantly expressed the hopelessness encountered by these communities, including Latinx individuals, when faced with the everlasting search for a true home.

Each year, ALAS selects an organization to support that is focused on aiding Latinx communities. This year, Carnaval advocated for RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. RAICES is a non-profit organization that “promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families and refugees.” The choice of this organization resonated with this year’s theme, as it directed attention to the inherent rights of every individual to safety and wellbeing—rights grounded in the opportunity to call somewhere home.

The 20th Carnaval struck an ever more important chord—that the exuberant and colorful cultures of Latin American communities should not only be embraced and celebrated, but also that increasing focus must urgently be directed towards actions that support these communities.