The Santo Domingo convent in Teguise was the place chosen by the management of the Los Cumbacheros troupe for its presentation for the upcoming Carnival festivities.
The event, which was held this Saturday, began with a novel introduction based on Velázquez's Las Meninas with a more carnival-like touch that accompanied the gala's presenter, Carmen Nieves Pérez, to the stage.
The first to perform were the 45 members of the murga Los Simplones, led by Enrique Martín, who brought a lot of rhythm and flair, performing their lively street parade and farewell. Next, the cowbells and chimes were heard to the cry of ¡Elegua! a representation of Los Diabletes from Teguise with their white clothing painted with red and black diamonds and the impressive mask topped with horns. This ancestral tradition is the oldest in the Canary Islands, so it could not be missed on such a special night.
Immediately afterwards, a representation of the Los Cumbacheros troupe from Tahíche made their entrance through the central aisle to the rhythm of batucada, filling the entire space on the stage with their color and rhythm with their impressive choreographies, showing off the fantasy of last year, The Treasure of Sheba. This gave way to the representatives of the guest troupe from the town of Valleseco in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Los Cariocas.
This Tenerife-based troupe was founded in 1969 and currently has 119 members between batucada and dance corps, although not all of them were able to travel to Lanzarote. Its president is José Manuel González, its designer, Juan Carlos Armas, and the fantasy they wore was entitled Dreaming under the Stars. The public was impressed with their performance, rewarding them with resounding applause.
After the performance of Los Cariocas, the Mascarita de Plata was presented, a distinction that this year was given to the Parranda Marinera Los Buches on the occasion of its 60th anniversary. Los Buches represent a tradition of the being and feeling of the seafaring people of Lanzarote, it is the maximum expression of the popular carnival of the Canary Islands and the most vivid testimony of the links between the men and women of Arrecife with the sea.
Paola San Ginés, a member of Los Cumbacheros, presented José Julián, president of Los Buches, with a sculpture and Nori Machín, Councilor for Culture of the Teguise City Council, presented him with the Diablete sculpture.
And, finally, the most anticipated moment of the night arrived, seeing the staging of the hosts, La Comparsa Los Cumbacheros was founded in 2012, so it has been 12 years actively participating in the Carnival. Sergio Níz has the responsibility of presiding over it, also falling on him each and every one of the choreographies carried out by the 64 members who are part of the troupe this year. The musical direction is in charge of a great professional and expert in the field, Gesury García, the designer is Borja Abreu who is the author of the fantasy called Atrápame.
One more year Los Cumbacheros set the bar very high, with a spectacular staging where the musical chords of the batucada and the choreographic movements of the dancers went hand in hand throughout the show. Although it did not have the participation of all the members, the spectacular nature of the fantasy was strikingly striking due to its colorfulness and received as a reward for their dedication and good work the applause of the public who, standing up, continued to show their admiration and affection at the same time that they joined singing and dancing very animatedly.
