Santa Cruz Carnival Gala: Uneven Start, Powerful Finish

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Gala, held at the Exhibition Centre, attracted a large crowd, with attendees beginning to take their seats from 8:30 PM. The event aimed to boost the festive spirit of Tenerife's capital, but it featured a mix of highly impactful moments and others that didn't quite resonate with the audience.

The evening started with an attempt at audience interaction, using a "Kiss Cam" similar to the opening gala, though it didn't really catch on. Yeray Piñero from the artistic team announced 20 minutes until showtime, and anticipation grew, with nearly all seats filled by 9:11 PM. At 9:23 PM, the lights dimmed, revealing a stage full of performers and a countdown on the screens for the overture. This opening act was a medley of Latin rhythms, featuring local artists like David Afonso and Jadel, an aerial performance by singer Naomi, and elements such as mariachis and cumbia. However, the initial staging, which included a tango version of "El Talismán" by Árgel Campos, was described as lacking emotion until the dance groups appeared.

A turning point came with a Bossa Nova segment and the entrance of the carnival troupes, who brought singer Anaé onto the stage on a float. Despite the ambitious scale of the overture, which ended with all the artists performing a medley of cover songs, the general feeling was that the beginning of the show never quite took off. The official Carnival theme song, "Baila la calle" by Los Cuatro, finally brought a surge of enthusiasm.

The Carnival Queen candidates paraded in different sections. In the first group, Leire García Santana, wearing the "Confía" costume by Jorge González, received the loudest applause. However, the subsequent performances by Danzarines Canarios and Joroperos didn't fully engage the audience and ended abruptly. The second group of candidates brought one of the night's highlights: Ceci Wallace (Cecilia Esther Díaz Hernández) in her "Sueños de Cristal" costume. Her illuminated lamps and emotional rendition of Gloria Estefan's "Puedes llegar" created a "wow effect," earning her the first unanimous ovation of the evening.

After this block, the rondallas (traditional musical groups) performed "Siboney" with Pancho Corujo singing, a moment many in the audience used to stand up and stretch. The gala maintained a brisk pace, leading to the final group of candidates and another performance by Los Cuatro. This time, they used playback, which, according to reports, lessened the appeal of the act. Later, other Musical Groups joined in, also using recordings, performing covers like "Burbujas de Amor" and "Ahora te puedes marchar" alongside the main group. La Fufa and Cariocas followed with their acts, with very brief introductions from the hosts. The night's big finish came from Manny Manuel. Full of energy and singing live, he surprised everyone by performing from the audience section, getting the crowd on their feet and dancing. As the stage filled with carnival troupes once more, it brought the gala to a high-energy close.