by the El Reportero staff
Marina Junqueira and Danilo Maccarao
Among a packed auditorium of guests and contestants the King and Queen of Carnaval 2007 were crowned.
Danilo Maccarao was named Carnaval SF King and Marina Junqueira was crowned Carnaval SF Queen due to their winning Carnival spirit. The competition was scored in costume, dance, music and audience approval categories amongst 20 contestants.
The competition was judged by a seven-person panel of leaders from the Bay Area’s artistic community. The Carnaval SF 2007 King and Queen Competition was held Saturday night at Fanatics Sports Entertainment Complex in San Francisco located at 61 Cesar Chavez street. (A photo of them, taken by photographer John Lee, is attached.)
Danilo is originally from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil and has over 20 years experience in the Brazilian martial art form Capoeira. He has also toured with DanceBrazil, a critically acclaimed performing company that specializes in fusing Afro Brazilian and modern dance.
Queen Marina, was born in Brazil and has participated in San Francisco Carnival for the past 10 years. She performs with Aquarela Brazilian Dance troupe, which now holds the distinction of having five Carnaval San Francisco Queens and two Kings from its rosters. Both winners not only excelled in the costume and dance performances, but also received tremendous audience approval.
A Queen of Carnival contestant dances in front of the audience at the Fanatics Sports Entertainment Complex on March 31.
The event also showcased the “Love Happens 2007” theme by assigning willing single guests a single heart sticker and couples receiving stickers with two hearts. All the while the competition was being displayed on 35 flat screen televisions, so mingling and socializing guests wouldn’t miss any of the performances. In addition, the King and Queen competition was emceed by Kellita and Hot Pink-Feathers with entertainment by DJ Vanka, Sistas-Wit-Style and others.
King Danilo and Queen Maria won $500 each and will grace the royal float in the Carnaval SF grand parade on Sunday, May 27, which will be broadcast live on KRON 4 the Bay Area’s News Station and Telemundo. The parade begins at 9:30 am that morning at the corner of Bryant and 24th streets in the Mission. Carnaval San Francisco is produced by the Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc. and is supported by San Francisco’s Grants for the Arts. Since 1959, the Mission Neighborhood Centers has provided quality programs that promote self-sufficiency and community growth for the Mission District’s children’ youth, families and seniors.
