What is Cumbia? Cumbia is a dance...

Monument to the dance and music of Cumbia in El Banco (Magdalena) (Atlantic coast of Colombia) (Image from Wikipedia.org)

Cum • bia (Spanish word; feminine, noun; pronounced koom•be•ah) Cumbia, abbreviation of the word Cumbiamba (pronounced koom•be•am•bah). The word Cumbia is derived from the sound Cumbé (African word originated in Guinea) that means celebration with dance*.

Cumbia is the rich cultural and musical heritage of the Atlantic coast of Colombia
South America.

Hudson, NY 2006 Cumbia Spirit dancers: Carlos Osorio & PJ Lorenz . Photo by John Mason

Cumbia is a dance, a musical expression of three converging ethnicities: African, Spanish and Colombian's natives fused their love of nature, spirit, their roots and the freedom in their hearts to create this form of graceful, gentle and proud dance that grounds the spirit and lifts the heart. This is the heritage from our elders who taught us to use these rhythms to celebrate and fill our lives with joy.(Read more on CUMBIA'S HISTORY... )

Cumbia is the country's National Dance; the most popular dance in Latin America.

Colombian people have used Cumbia dance since the XV century (Mario Gareña, 2006) for all kinds of celebrations: to commune with spirit and during ceremonies, for festivals and the popular annual carnivals, one of them is the Festival of La Candelaria (dedicated to the virgen of "La Candelaria" = of the candles). In the Atlantic coast of the country these festivities can last a week. It is during these festivals or Cumbiambas (pronounced koom•be•am•bahs) that musicians play all kinds of Cumbias (porros, buyerengues, corridos, vallenatos) during the parades for the day and in dance clubs at night. All folkloric groups gather and play the beloved colombian music and the most popular songs for dancing. (To see the MUSIC LIST... )

Saratoga Springs, NY 2004 Cumbia Workshop at National Museum of Dance. Jessica Mathiassen & Carlos Osorio. Photo by Jennifer May

* celebration with dance = Fiesta. "party" this English word does not necessarily translate from Spanish ("Fiesta" for Latinos means dancing music, food with family and friends, and more dancing from beginning to end) "Party" means a meeting, social gathering, entertainment may or may not be involved- Webster Dictionary.) "dance party" is the closest translation.