¡ Que Viva Colombia ! - Colombian Dancers Take on Paris

It's half past noon on a warm and sunny day in March in Paris. In a small apartment on the second floor of a run-down building, 33 years old Paola, a choreographer who's lived in Paris for twelve years, is helping Juanita, a young woman studying neuropsychology and linguistics, with her makeup. They are getting ready for the annual Women's Carnival in Paris. Both young women are part of a group of eleven Colombian dancers called 'Luz de la Noche'. It's their first time participating in the Women's Carnival. Their goal? Sharing their love of traditional Colombian dancing and culture across Paris.

'La reina', the queen of the carnival.

©Aurore Laborie - The Elephant in the Room

There are about 22 000 Colombian immigrants in Paris. Groups like 'Luz de la Noche' enable them to keep one foot in their native culture and the other in France. It's also a safe space for these immigrants to talk about integration, homesickness, and the highs and lows of living in a foreign country. One of them arrived in Paris a week ago, and doesn't speak a word of French.

For many of these dancers, France is a new haven for studies, economic opportunities, and discovering new cultures. According to the founder, Luz, «Paris is a city that boosts people, that enables us to believe in ourselves and makes us fall in love with life».

Yet for Juanita, who lived six years in the United States and faced discrimination and racism there, France has so far not necessarily been an improvement. She mentions how some French people have also stigmatized her, saying that she is here «just to bring drugs» or that as a Latina she's «good in bed». A far cry from the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the women's carnival.

This photo essay captures their first event, following the dancers through the day, and highlighting parts of Colombian culture they are sharing with the French public, notably traditional costumes and dances. Immigration was at the heart of the 2022 French presidential elections, often times negatively portraying immigrants and accusing them of not trying to abide to French culture. But according to Luz, part of being a foreigner is about keeping one foot in each culture, something that should be celebrated instead of looked down upon.