A member of the Loli Pérez choreographic group since she was four years old, Alicia was already the children’s first lady at Carnival 2014, the year before her grandmother won the senior scepter.
How did you decide to be a candidate for Carnival queen?
Since I was four years old I have been participating in the Carnival with the Loly Pérez choreographic team; I’m 18 now.
And who proposes to be a contender for the title?
My designer is a friend of both my father and my brother because we always enter the Virgen del Socorro together. We went to visit him one day and he asked me to participate as a candidate; I had already participated as an applicant in the children’s gala and it was a thorn and a dream that I had, and I did not want to miss the opportunity.
When did you show up? Queen’s Election Gala childish?
I applied in 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife; So my designer was Samuel Curbelo and I was first lady.
Then he goes for the revalidation in the adult gala.
Yes… (laughs).
Do you study or work?
I am studying Accounting and Finance first at the University of La Laguna.
Complicated to combine studies and preparations for the Carnival gala?
It is an effort but like everything that is worth in life. Also, I’m pretty good at it.
Also, if she has been linked to Carnival since she was four years old, it is already her way of life.
Going out to Carnival motivates me to study because if I don’t take it out I can’t go out to a party; Participating as a candidate now motivates me to face the studies.
With her career in the Loli Pérez group, she has already enjoyed parades and performances.
Yes, both in children’s gala, in arenas and parades, and even in editions that have called us for the overtures of other Carnival shows.
Are you in favor of establishing Presentation and Interpretation prizes, for choreography, in choreographic groups?
It is quite difficult to assess the dance itself if a choreographic contest is held because the styles are completely different between the groups, which is why only three awards have been established that focus on assessing what the presentation is.
Does it limit it then to the costume that each one presents?
Perhaps prizes for the staging, which takes into consideration both the costume, the theme and the dance, to see how it is related as a whole, but I would not establish that distinction between Presentation and Interpretation. We, for example, do acrobatic gymnastics, it’s not the same as who does hip hop.
In recent years, the choreographic festival has won in full. Is it because they are an academy, because there are many parents?
The choreographic festival is liked, it attracts the attention of both families and lovers of Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
How do you define the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Carnival moves the hearts of all chicharreros because we are preparing ourselves all year long and waiting for this moment to arrive, because people from all over the world also come together and it is a great illusion. For choreographic groups, such as the murgasthe troupes…. all the groups and the candidates themselves give birth to what we have been doing for many months.
Is it more of a street carnival or a contest?
I’m more of a contest Carnival, but the Carnival in the street looks much more striking.
But can you understand one thing without the other?
Not at all. Contests, galas and street form a whole.
What will draw attention to your suit?
Maybe I can’t be objective because it’s my costume and I’ve participated in its creation and I have a special affection for it, but for me fantasy is a dream, it’s beautiful, I love it and I’m going to like it a lot for how it is. Tinse has shone this year and has managed to capture my essence.
Since I was four years old I have participated in Loli Pérez’s group and I had the illusion of introducing myself to queen
Do you like that New York is the reason for this edition of Carnival?
Yes, I like it because the theme is New York, the city that never sleeps, and it is quite related to Santa Cruz when Carnival arrives, that we don’t leave a contest to enter another act or later enjoy ourselves in the street, or the same occurs when the Day Carnival and the Night Carnival takes over.
Are you afraid that the fantasy you are going to wear will be too heavy?
No, I am aware that my designer’s team takes this into account when preparing it and from what I have been able to see, everything is quite good.
Do you prepare in the gym to be able to wear the suit?
Yes, yes, I’m hitting it hard in the gym (laughs).
Is it more of comparsas, murgas, galas…?
Obviously I’m more of choreographic groups; other than that I really like comparsas.
Was there a Carnival tradition at home?
Yes, my grandmother was queen of the Carnival for the elderly in 2015; This is Rosenda Campos Diaz. With her 87 years well taken to her, her carnivals give her life; She advises me to laugh a lot on stage, to have a great time and show what I know how to do and my personality because I am very cheerful and she wants me to convey it in the parade.
