Community seniors joined over 170 performers of all ages at this year's Carnaval, winning first prize with a performance that celebrated artmaking and intergenerational learning.

Led by instructors Elizabeth Soberanes and Dudley Flores, their contingent included dancers from Latin Dance Grooves- a class created by Elizabeth to explore the art of Latin dance- the Oberlin Dance Collective, Rythm & Motion, Mission High School, and On Lok 30th Street Senior Center. Their performance won first place in the Contemporary/World Fusion Category and was extensively featured in televised coverage of the parade on KPIX.

"Carnaval is the largest multicultural event with a Latin lens focus in San Francisco, with over 4,000 attendees. It's a big deal for senior center community members, especially those who have been here for a long time," said Sandra Rivas, Director of Senior Programs & Operations, On Lok Day Services.

For Sandra, the event was the realization of an idea that began with a pilot program for older adults interested in learning to dance for the parade. "It takes a lot to put on a contingent, but with Elizabeth's experience in partnerships and dance organizations, we decided to bring it to the community," Sandra said. "The ethos of the center is to do it not for the seniors but with the seniors. Elizabeth empowered our participants: we are going to teach you and lead you, but you will have to do it yourselves."

For months, older adults and youths attended dance lessons, rehearsals, and costume-making workshops. "They worked together, learning from one another, building community," said Elizabeth, a former Carnaval Queen who has been in the parade since 1999. "Dancing a choreography for the entire route can be a heavy lift, but the seniors were committed and ready for the challenge. It was we who could not keep up with them. The seed Sandra planted grew into a beautiful experience for all."

"This project followed our peer-to-peer model, with seniors teaching seniors, reinforcing that they are capable of completing a project that seemed out of reach," Sandra said. "On Lok 30th Street Senior Center has always been an active promoter of the arts and artistic expression. We look forward to continuing to involve more young people and public schools of the Mission in our intergenerational activities."