Third time’s the
charm for San Francisco’s Queen of Carnaval 2007:
In her third appearance in the Queen of San Francisco Carnaval
competition, Marina Junqueira outshone a very competitive field by
keeping a simple philosophy in mind: “I wasn’t worried – I did it
because I wanted to have fun.” By not putting too much pressure on
herself, she allowed her fun and energetic performance to win over the
judges and excite the crowd. In doing so, she became the 8th
member of the Aquarela dance troupe (now with 5 queens and 3 kings) to
be crowned San Francisco Carnaval royalty.
Marina's winning dance at the 2007
King and Queen of Carnaval competition. For more video of
the competitors, visit our
King and
Queen
video pages.
Born in Belem, Marina split her time growing up between
Fortaleza in
Brazil and San Francisco and Vallejo here in the Bay Area. She attended
Carnaval balls as a kid with her family, and has long been a fan of
Carnaval. “I think the energy and the loudness, people jumping and
dancing and having a good time, and of course the costumes,” are all
factors that Marina cites when asked what she loves about Carnaval. But
it was the performance of Aquarela at the San Francisco Carnaval Ball 10
years ago that finally led her to pursue dancing. “I saw the Aquarela
dance team and said, I want to do that!”
King Danilo and Queen Marina share a
victory dance after being crowned for the 2007 Carnaval.
Marina has been dancing with Aquarela for close to nine years now. She
credits Maria Souza and Silvana Souza as her biggest influences, but she
also cites another source of inspiration – the audiences which energize
her dance performances. Marina has shared that same inspiration with
others, having taught dance at the high school where she is an English
teacher (she is in the process of finishing her credentialing program),
and would like to work more with adolescents: “I want to see if I can
teach more adolescents and get them involved in Carnival. I’d like to
show them there is more besides wearing a bikini and doing samba – there
are other beautiful Brazilian dances, and parts of the culture as well.”
RIP:
Carnaval San Francisco's great Carlos Aceituno passed
on September on Tuesday September 26, 2006. Many of the
entrants at this years King and Queen competition dedicated
their performance to Carlos.
The leader of Fogo Na Roupa was loved by all as an
inspirational mentor, teacher, and creative force whose
everyday example of living life in the present and coming
together joyously through the power of song dance and
community at Carnaval time will long be remembered.
Tribute to Carlos Flight of the Quetzal
"We can now remember that SMILE and
all his LOVE that he gave to our community
throughout his lifetime through memory. El
Es Dios! "
- Roberto Hernandez, Artistic Director
of Carnaval SF
In her third appearance in the Queen of San Francisco Carnaval
competition, Marina Junqueira outshone a very competitive field by
keeping a simple philosophy in mind: “I wasn’t worried – I did it
because I wanted to have fun.” By not putting too much pressure on
herself, she allowed her fun and energetic performance to win over the
judges and excite the crowd. In doing so, she became the 8th
member of the Aquarela dance troupe (now with 5 queens and 3 kings) to
be crowned San Francisco Carnaval royalty. 
