Every year Washington University students fill Edison Theatre for one of four cultural shows; this year that won’t be the case. Carnaval is the University’s student-run Latinx cultural show, featuring dances from folklorico to street tango. Each year’s performance also includes a skit written, directed and performed by students. Carnaval 2020, “Dreams,” was to take place next Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28 in Edison. However, because of the University’s decision to close campus as a result of COVID-19, this year’s Carnaval production has been canceled.

Grace Bruton | Student Life

Dancers perform Folklorico at the Association of Latin American Students’ 20th annual Carnaval show, ‘Home,’ at Edison Theatre in 2019. This year’s performance of Carnaval, “Dreams,” has been cancelled due to COVID-19.

This year’s theme, “Dreams,” was very straightforward, with the intended message of following your dreams. “The idea of dreams really centered on how you could follow your dreams and the obstacles one could encounter along the way,” explained junior Ted Flaherty, a co-director and folklorico dancer for Carnaval.

Success is defined differently by different people on the journey to reaching the “American Dream,” and it manifests itself in a variety of ways—this is what Carnaval was going to explore this year.

“At the moment, there is really not much we can do or that was left to do,” this year’s producer and co-director, freshman Mikayla Bridges, said in a statement to Student Life. While unexpected and disheartening, Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) Exec and the Carnaval Committee are not letting this setback faze them, and they’re looking ahead to the future.

“With everything being so sudden and people needing to focus on more important matters like shelter, food and travel there hasn’t been much discussion,” Bridges said. With seniors graduating and others going abroad, key players from this year’s production—dancers, actors, choreographers and planners—won’t be involved, but Bridges iterated her hopes that the Wash. U. community would get a chance to see “Dreams” on the Edison stage as soon as possible. She, as well as members of the ALAS executive board, are working tirelessly to come up with the best solution for the public to see this year’s production. So far, a decision has not been made.