Kanaval in Haiti

Students in Jacmel, Haiti show off their epic papier-mâché creations at their school’s Kanaval celebration

There’s a certain kind of energy you can feel even through photos: color everywhere, masks that are larger than life, and tudents fully in it—dancing, performing, creating, not holding back. That’s Kanaval.And at our partner school in Jacmel, Haiti, it showed up in a big way.

Kanaval isn’t just a parade. It’s a national celebration that takes place each year leading up to Mardi Gras, with communities across Haiti taking to the streets through music, dance, and performance. But in places like Jacmel, it becomes something even more specific. Kanaval is where art, history, and identity come together—through handcrafted masks, costumes, and performances that reflect both tradition and current realities.

They’re not just learning performance skills—they’re participating in a living cultural tradition that connects them to something bigger.

None of this happens by accident. It takes planning, teaching, and a lot of trust in young people to step up and take ownership. A huge shoutout to our four BAE Haitian teaching artists, Edy-Louis, Bettina, Mackendy, Gethro, and who made this work possible and continue to lead high-quality arts programming in Jacmel. Amid ongoing political instability in Haiti, they continue to show up—creating spaces where students can learn, express themselves, and experience joy through the arts.