Vanessa Finnigan
Vanessa Finnigan
Vanessa Finnigan
DIRECTOR
Born in Cartagena, Colombia has participated as a dancer with La Cumbiamba Colombiana since 2015 and is currently serving as the Comparsa Director. Vanessa enjoys getting together with la familia cumbiambera every year sharing a little bit of Colombian cumbia, culture, and folklore.
John Roldan
Vanessa Finnigan
Vanessa Finnigan
FOUNDER
Born in Palmira, Valle he is a Planner Manager, DJ, Percussionist, and Founder of La Cumbiamba Colombiana. As a Planner Manager, John works during the day for one of the largest electronic companies in the Silicon Valley. As a DJ, he has offered his services for over 15 years at festivals, local clubs, and private events.
Maria Barreto
German Tike Reyes
German Tike Reyes
FEMALE LEAD CHOREOGRAPHER
Maria Barreto born in Cartagena de Indias has been a dancer for 15 years with extensive experience in Colombian Folklore, Modern Dances,
Afro-Contemporary and International Dances. She has also participated in national festivals in Colombia alongside great masters of art.
German Tike Reyes
German Tike Reyes
German Tike Reyes
MALE LEAD CHOREGRAPHER
Born in Neiva, Colombia, German joins La Cumbiamba Colombiana for the first year bringing his extensive experience not only as a dancer, but also as a creative art director. He has been a dancer for over 15 years and was the Founder, Choreographer and Director of Danza Estudio Neiva.
Aura Barva
Aura Barva
Aura Barva
COMMUNICATION & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Born in Cartagena, Colombia has participated as a dancer with La Cumbiamba Colombiana several times since 2014 and was La Cumbiamba Queen in 2019. Aura is also involved with Carnaval San Francisco and has served as MC for the 2022 & 2024 Carnaval King & Queen Competition.
Dora Lopez
Aura Barva
Aura Barva
EDITORIAL MANAGER
Born in Michoacan, Mexico has participated as a dancer with La Cumbiamba Colombiana since 2015. Dora learned to love cumbia listening to Aniceto Molina since she was a little girl. She shares that being part of La Cumbiamba Colombiana has made her love for cumbia, its people, and the traditional Colombian folklore grow.
Sebastian Machado ~ Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer and original creator of La Cumbiamba Colombiana art for 2020, 2024 & 2025.
Born in El Banco, Magdalena, Colombia (La ciudad Imperio de la Cumbia), Sebastian is a freelance illustrator enthusiastic about the folkloric songs and dances, which adorn the culture of the majestic Magdalena River. Much of his work has been dedicated to elaborating graphic pieces that show the color and charm of all these cultural expressions. Sebastian currently lives in Medellin.
You can see Sebastian art and work in his social media:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sebasmd4
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seb.md4/ &
Art By Sebastian
Su Majestad: La Cumbia
"Del encuentro entre tres continentes, África, América y Europa, nació la cumbia: un sonido sin fronteras, fácil de entender y de interpretar; un ritmo del que todos somos dueños, que nos define. Una ilustración que dedico con mucho amor a La Cumbia y a todos los que nos sentimos identificados con ella."
Noches Cumbiamberas
Wonderful full moon nights in San Francisco showcasing the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.
La Cumbiamba Colombiana - Art 2020
La Cumbiamba Colombiana - Art 2020
Official Flyer for Carnaval San Francisco 2020.
Adelina Palacio ~ Costume Designer
Designer of La Cumbiamba Colombiana Costume in 2024 & 2025.
Adelina Palacio was born in Santa Marta, Colombia. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a professional and creator, who manages and leads multiple visual projects with the application of digital tools. She is currently studying Interior Design.
Adelina has always been inclined to showcase her culture and this year is the designer of the Costume for La Cumbiamba Colombiana.
You can see Adelina's art and work in her social media:
- Instagram: @adelina_art9
You can contact Adelina via email:
Special Guest Artist & Singer
Carlos Kandia
Kandia is a singer, percussionist, actor and musical theater producer, founder and director of the entertainment solutions company Kandia Entertainment, Northern California leader in Latino Live Entertainment with more than 5000 live productions since 2014.
Carlos Kandia has won multiple awards such as Artist of the Year by the City of Sacramento, the Sammies Award in 2020 winning ¨World Artist," and this year 2024 was awarded as one of the Top 20 Latino Change Makers in Sacramento.
Website: https://www.kandiamusica.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlos.kandia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kandiag/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KandiaG
We are extremely honored to be working for the third year in a row with Carlos Kandia and Kandia Entertainment.
Choreography
We are super excited to be working this year again with El Cumbión de Oro, one of the most renown cumbiambas participants of Carnaval de Barranquilla. They have been participating in Carnaval de Barranquilla for 42 years and have won multiple Congos de Oro, the prize given to the best comparsas.
HISTORY:
The history of Cumbión de Oro dates back to June 13, 1983, in the city of Barranquilla, in the Siete Bocas sector of the Recreo neighborhood. This is where the group of happy dancers, lovers of Cumbia and all the native dances of our Caribbean Region, is formed. They initially called the group, the “Gran Candela”. As time went by, they dedicated themselves to working hard to consolidate their own style. When they achieved it, they decided to change their name to "El Cumbión de Oro." The new name comes from a musical theme by La Familia Andre, called De Oro, and the word Cumbión, which denotes joy.
LEAD CHOREOGRAPHER:
Gina Navarro
WANT TO CHECK THEM OUT?
Here's a video of one of their amazing choreographies.