Without even knowing what will happen with the celebration of the great acts of Christmas, the Autonomous Organism of Santa Cruz Festivities multiplies so that the Carnival machinery is already at full capacity. With the approval of the rules for the Galas of the queens next year, for which the registration period is scheduled to open today, the organization and participation in contests and Galas is practically closed. Now the entire contractual framework remains, with the uncertainty of knowing if there will be Carnival in the street or not. “The City Council has a plan B in case there is finally no Carnival in the street, and in it, the general public will be able to enjoy the Queens and groups up close,” explains the Party Councilor in an interview with DIARIO DE AVISOS, Alfonso Cabello.
-How is the organization of Carnival 2022 going?
“In the last Governing Council we have approved seven framework contracts, with issues such as chairs, scenography, security, cleaning … And so far we have already carried out 17 tenders, which is a very high number in such a short period of time. I can only say that the City Council is putting everything necessary so that the legal and administrative possibilities are given to celebrate the Carnival, so that there is only doubt about the evolution of the pandemic ”.
-Will there be Carnival in the street with Coso and Cabalgata?
“That part was trying to pivot it depending on what happened with Christmas. Depending on how the Christmas parades are, I will have a line of work on what happens with Carnivals. If you ask me if a plan B could be that there are five Carnival parades, as happened at Christmas last year, I don’t know. We would apply Christmas conditions to Carnival, but with the uncertainty in which we move, it is complicated ”.
-But is there plan B?
“There is. What we are clear about is that, in the event that there is no street Carnival, the general public can enjoy the designs of the Queen’s costumes as well as the Carnival groups, in some show formats that allow this approach between the public. and artists ”.
-Does the City Council reduce the possibility of giving up public spaces for the organization of private Carnival parties?
“The Santa Cruz City Council understands that the celebration of Carnival has its identity and its way of celebrating it, which is in the street, and in a public way. Our party does not fit the celebration in closed venues or private celebrations such as booths at the April Fair or food houses in Bilbao ”.
-What will happen to the group rehearsals if Tenerife goes up to level 2?
“It is contemplated that we would remain exactly the same as we are right now.”
-When does the registration of candidates open? Will there be a limit number?
“The forecast is that the registration will open this Monday (today), work is being done for it, and as for the number, there are no limitations.”
-How much audience are you going to allow in contests and galas?
“We are working on a format that allows us to modulate according to the phase we are in, with a maximum capacity of 5,000 people, and have a single television set.”
-Is there any exclusively television format planned?
“Right now we are in a containment scenario. With framework contracts I have a budget to do one thing, I cannot use it for another. So we do not contemplate beyond working in a different way if there is no street, that plan B that I was talking about, in which the candidates and groups shine in the Carnival beyond their respective contests and galas. In addition, and this is a very personal vision, in the hypothetical case that there is a street, it would not contemplate for its celebration anything other than a tribute to our musicians and groups, to that street Carnival that we all have in mind of kiosks and dances, with songs that, as soon as you hear them, you know that it is Carnival ”.
– Does that suppose that there will be no big international stars?
“In the case of the Gala we are working very much in the key of pride, return, tribute. We do not have any objective in that sense right now. We are going to think it through and think about it well. We are determined to introduce new features in the structure such as the ones we advanced last year ”.
-Are you referring to the introduction of the popular vote?
“Among other things. With that part of the popular score we wanted to reach 60% of the vote, but we started with 15%, because designers are still a little scared. With this, what we are looking for is that the viewer does not connect and disconnect from the different blocks into which the Gala is divided. So, in addition to shortening the time of the Gala, we make it attractive in that final part with the introduction of the popular vote. I believe that the Gala has to jump from the television screen and go to multiscreens ”.
-What do you mean?
“Because I watch the Gala on television, but I interact with it through social networks with my mobile phone or from my home computer, and I am also able to make things happen in the show through voting. That, today, any modern television product that aspires to have a connection with its audience, is what it does ”.
