comparsa

[ kuhm-pahr-suh ]

noun

1. a song and folk dance of Cuba.

Word History and Origins

Origin of comparsa¹

From Latin American Spanish, Spanish: “masquerade, group of theatrical extras,” from Italian: “a theatrical extra; appearance,” noun use of feminine of comparso, past participle of comparire, from Latin compārēre “to become visible”; com-, appear

Example Sentences

The group of dancers at the head — known as a “comparsa” – are devoted to a specific image of the infant Jesus.

From Seattle Times

Mr. D’Rivera’s rapport with Quinteto Cimarrón found ample expression, as much on the bolero “Longina” as on “La Comparsa,” a processional by Ernesto Lecuona.

From New York Times

For her concerts with the orchestra — Saturday in Seattle, Sunday in Kirkland — Cohen sent arrangements of “Cry Me a River,” “La Comparsa,” “Ingênuo,” and Johnny Griffin’s “Do It,” all written by her friend Oded Lev-Ari.

From Seattle Times

For her concerts with the orchestra — Saturday in Seattle, Sunday in Kirkland — Cohen sent arrangements of “Cry Me a River,” “La Comparsa,” “Ingênuo,” and Johnny Griffin’s “Do It,” all written by her friend Oded Lev-Ari.

From Seattle Times

Spectators become participants, dancing on the cobblestones in the jittery shake of a murga comparsa, an Argentine dance popular during Carnival season, also rooted in African culture.

From New York Times