Wellington Batucada – Cuba Street Carnival champions!
Wellington Batucada once again excelled in the parade, winning the Supreme prize with their fish-themed entry which included drummers in goldfish hats, samba dancers in glittering blue fish costumes and a huge illuminated deep sea creature.
Cuba Street Carnival website
Batucada
Photo by smartin
Batucada pre-parade @ Cuba St Carnival (via paultnz2)
Cuba Street Carnival tamborim section
Photo by Pooria Koleyni - part of the Cuba Street Carnival 2009 photoset
Cuba Street Carnival
Photo by SnapStarLive
Wellington Batucada – Cuba Street Carnival Parade 2009 (via paultnz2)
Cuba Street Carnival dancers
Photo by Fuseman
Cuba Street Carnival float
Photo by Fuseman
Cuba Street Carnival float
Photo by Fuseman
Cuba Street Carnival dancer
Photo by Pooria Koleyni - part of the Cuba Street Carnival 2009 photoset
Cuba Street Carnival fish float
Photo by SnapStarLive
Cuba Street Carnival dancers
Photo by Pooria Koleyni - part of the Cuba Street Carnival 2009 photoset
Cuba Street Carnival float
Photo by Pooria Koleyni - part of the Cuba Street Carnival 2009 photoset
Cuba Street Carnival dancers
Photo by Pooria Koleyni - part of the Cuba Street Carnival 2009 photoset
Cuba Street Carnival fish float
Photo by Pooria Koleyni - part of the Cuba Street Carnival 2009 photoset
Cuba Street Carnival porta-bandeira and mestre-sala
Photo by Pooria Koleyni - part of the Cuba Street Carnival 2009 photoset
Cuba Street Carnival fish float
Photo by SnapStarLive
Cuba Street Carnival singers
Photo by Pooria Koleyni - part of the Cuba Street Carnival 2009 photoset
cuba street carnival Meridian street parade 011 (via paradoxsm)
Media coverage
Cuba Street Carnival delights 150,000 strong crowd
“This has got to be right up there as an internationally recognised Mardi Gras,” said Wellington Major Kerry Prendergast. “It’s been massive here today and the work that gone into it is huge.”
That huge amount of work was also rewarded for some with the Wellington Batucada float – complete with synchronised fish head drummers – winning the supreme award.
3 News, 22 February 2009
Streets ahead of last carnival
Batucada's Clo Mudrik at the Cuba Street Carnival
Photo by Andrew Gorrie, The Dominion Post
The carnival is over but for a record 150,000 visitors who packed central Wellington for the 12-hour street party, it is a day few will forget.
Organisers said the 10th biennial Cuba St Carnival was the most successful yet. Revellers sampled music, stalls and performances, culminating in an extravagant night parade.
The carnival attracted 50,000 more revellers than in 2007, making it one of the largest events of its kind held in Wellington. The Return of the King world premiere in 2003 attracted about 100,000.
Dominion Post, 2 March 2009
It’s Showtime!
Cuba Carnivale is upon us once more.
Batucada float, Cuba Street Carnival
Photo by Maximus, Eye of the Fish
…And best of all – my favourite – the incredibly tight rhythm of the Wellington Batucada drumming machine. It’s Showtime! | Eye of the Fish, 21 February 2009