For Colombian sisters Diana, Kelly, and Paola Garcia, dance is a way of staying close to home — even while living far from it. At the head of the Ballet Folklorico de las Americas, they preserve memory, identity, and Colombian folklore, building a bridge between their native Colombia and the United States.
While cumbia — the music rhythm born on Colombia’s Caribbean coast — and others such as mapale, puya, currulao, and abozao are often seen as the nation’s most recognizable expressions, the sisters come from the eastern plains, where joropo defines regional identity through its fast footwork and strong Spanish influence.
Their repertoire also moves through the central region with bambuco and guabina, and to the south with sanjuanito, reflecting the country’s cultural diversity. Every dance tells a different story, and Diana, Kelly, and Paola are living proof of how Colombian folklore continues to travel, evolve, and remain alive beyond its borders.
Paola Garcia and her sisters Diana and Kelly bring Colombian folklore to Connecticut, US
Paola is 27 years old. She was born in the municipality of Granada, in the department of Meta, Colombia, and spent most of her life in Villavicencio, the capital city of the department where she grew up and developed professionally. A psychologist and professional dancer, Paola defines herself by her passion and commitment to Colombian culture and community.
“I love Colombian folklore — each dance has a different story to tell.” These are the words of a Colombian woman who dances as she travels the world. Since 2023, she has been living in Stamford, Connecticut, where she continues to practice the art of dance while showing the world how beautiful and versatile Colombian dance truly is.
According to a 2020 census, Connecticut is home to around 70,000 Colombians and Americans of Colombian descent, accounting for 2% of the state’s population.
As a dancer, she has had the privilege of taking Colombian traditions to international stages across the Americas, including Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Venezuela, and now the United States.
“My love for art has turned me into a cultural ambassador, proudly representing my roots,” Paola says.
As a proud Colombian, her main goal is to teach new generations about the history of Colombian folklore so that traditions, customs, quality, and rhythm are not lost.
“It’s part of what we do — not only in the United States, but in every country where I’ve been — to showcase and highlight Colombian culture and dance, so that new generations who are far from our country, and there are many, can understand our history. We are Colombia, we are rhythm!”
Dance has always been present. Paola began dancing at the age of 5, encouraged by her mother, who introduced her to dance early on. She participated in every artistic activity at school. Paola’s mother recalls: “Even when I was pregnant with Paola, she moved constantly in my belly. Now we understand why.”
Paola’s formal training began in 2012 at the Ballet Folklorico del Llano in Villavicencio. Seven years later, her path took an international turn when she traveled to the United States as part of a cultural exchange program, working as an au pair.
During her time in Boston, she became a member of BAJUCOL Dance Studio, a Colombian dance group that kept her artistic and cultural ties alive. Her growing presence in the Colombian diaspora was recognized in 2022, when she was crowned Queen of the San Francisco Carnival.
In 2023, together with her sisters Diana and Kelly, she founded the Ballet Folklorico de las Americas (BFAMERICAS), a project aimed at highlighting the richness of Colombian art by presenting traditional dances such as cumbia, joropo, bambuco, sanjuanito, and the iconic Caribbean coast carnivals.
“With this group, we have taken our dances to Connecticut, New York, California, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and Massachusetts, sharing the beauty and diversity of our culture,” the Garcia sisters explain.
Through their work with BFAMERICAS, Paola and her sisters are dedicated to promoting Latin American culture — especially Colombian culture — by organizing events that bring the community together. One of the most important is the Colombian Carnival. Its second edition was held last year at Stamford Town Center, during a celebration filled with culture, gastronomy, music, and dance, allowing Colombians in Connecticut to reconnect with their roots and feel at home.
