Carnival transcends mere revelry; what truly matters about this special occasion is the community that comes together across the island to craft designs, choreograph performances, and pen lyrics for the murgas. The creative team led by designer Santi Castro, who clinched victory in the past three Carnival queen competitions in Santa Cruz, is an integral part of this community. The bonds forged among the over twenty team members have developed into genuine friendships, leading them to affectionately dub themselves the “Castro family.”
The unity within this team and their dedication to the designer have yielded remarkable results. Undeniably, the tremendous human and artistic calibre prevalent in their workshop, based in Añaza this year, has enabled them to secure the crown for the third consecutive year with the El Mundo design, representing the Añaza Carrefour Shopping Center and worn by Corina Mrazek. Diego Barroso, Noel Dóniz, and Vicky Mederos, known as Vikitusa, are some of the individuals in the Castro family, and they now share with DIARIO DE AVISOS their experiences of working with Santi Castro.
It all commences in October, during the casting for the new candidate. As Vicky Mederos puts it, “It’s at that time when everything springs into action and the momentum gradually builds. It’s like our first day of school,” before adding, “Obviously, we’re always the mischief-makers who stir up some trouble at any time of the year.” When quizzed about the working process, Noel Dóniz highlights, “Everyone mucks in, although if someone excels at a particular task, it’s typically entrusted directly to that individual to ensure uniformity across all the components.” He stresses, “Behind the feathers, stones, braids, and sequins, there lies effort, which may seem less glamorous, yet over time, I’ve come to appreciate the beauty of each stage of the process. It’s a privilege for me to keep learning new things year after year.”
Describing the ambiance in the workshop, Diego Barroso remarks, “It’s lively, pleasant, and familial. Though we’re all there to finalise the design and make it as impeccable as possible, there’s always time for banter, discussions, and heart-to-hearts,” a sentiment endorsed by Noel Dóniz: “The learning hasn’t solely pertained to design; we’ve all grown and forged very strong bonds. There have been countless sleepless nights, numerous pots of coffee, creative blocks, fits of laughter, and tears. What I value most about this group of people is their tremendous willingness to acknowledge and appreciate one another.”
Every team has indispensable individuals, and while Vicky Mederos insists that “we all play crucial roles, each of us with our own personality and skills, contributing to the unity and integrity of this team,” Noel Dóniz lauds the substantial contributions made by Luci, Santi Castro’s wife, and their two sons Óscar and Carlos, along with “other team members like Juan, who has been with Santi since Láquesis (reign of 2003).”
Things could culminate in February, as is customary for design teams, but in the case of the Castro family, as Vicky Mederos articulates: “After the Carnival week, we enter what I call the grace period, and we completely disconnect. However, like any tight-knit family, we always reunite during the summer and Christmas. In summer, we always share a meal where we reminisce about the previous gala and are given glimpses of the next one and its potential design.”
