What is a comparsa and all those that participate in the COAC (Carnival of Cádiz) in 2023

The RAE collects at least four meanings to define a troupe. The truth is that it is a term that, unlike the chirigota, has a lot of meaning outside of Carnival, although it is always related to art: in theater, for example, it is about the group of people who appear but do not speak but also refers to to a “group of people who, dressed in a similar way, often with humorous or sarcastic intent, participate in a popular festival“Perhaps this is the one that comes closest to what a comparsa really is in the context of the Carnival of Cádiz.

Before the Carnival itself, which lasts only a few days, Cádiz celebrates the Official Contest of Carnival Groups (COAC), a humorous and musical ‘battle’ between choirs, quartets, chirigotas and comparsas. Behind the troupe is the figure of Francisco José María del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Alba Medina, better known as Paco Alba, considered the creator of this traditional carnival formula of the city of Cádiz and who has been part of the COAC since the sixties. The comparsa is a more classy joke, a kind of stylized joke, less parodic and more poetic, with a more elaborate repertoire.

The troupe is made up of a minimum of 12 people and a maximum of 15 (it is more numerous than the chirigota), also accompanied by guitars, bass drums, snare drums, whistles and güiros. What is similar to the chirigota is in its repertoire: the comparsa is made up of presentation, pasodobles, cuplés, chorus and medleys.

The comparsas of the COAC of 2023

• Las Borracheras – January 21
• Let yourself fly! of Seville – January 21
• The Rats, from Vilches (Jaén) – January 21
• The Tram – January 21
• The Scoundrel Pen – January 22
• The Don Juan of your details – January 22
• Cádiz wakes up – January 22
• The Emigrants – January 23
• The old green – January 23
• Those of the dark room – January 23
• The invisible city – January 24
• A thousand sleepless nights – January 24
• Chalk Aunt – January 24
• The Ticks – January 25
• The spell of Cádiz – January 25
• Those who do not waste time – January 25
• Caminito del Falla – January 26
• The queen’s sewing kit – January 26
• No ojana – January 26
• The Prophets – January 26
• The Band-Aids – January 27
• The conquest of bread – January 27
• Cadiz of my soul – January 27
• The corner poison – January 27
• The Manipulaos – January 28
• The cage of the crazy women – January 28
• The Muses – January 28
• A divine excuse – January 28
• The Revoleaos’ – January 29
• The essentials – January 29
• Those of the tacatá – January 29
• Soldiers – January 30
• Earth – January 30
• The Andalusian – January 30
• The Joker – January 31
• The movie makers – January 31
• Treasure Island – January 31
• The oh! Goddess of Carnival – February 1
• The slaves – February 1
• The four cats – February 1
• The independent canton (long live the women of Cádiz) – February 1
• Now or Never – February 2
• The Turners – February 2
• The calaores’, a troupe of a lifetime – February 2
• The Southerners – February 2
• The die is cast – February 3
• The gales – February 3
• The tricksters – February 3
• The legs, a troupe from outside – February 3
• The Cobwebs – February 4
• The carnivalers – February 4
• Elementary, dear Cádiz – February 4

What was the best comparsa of the COAC in 2022?

In the last edition of the Contest of Carnival Groups (COAC) of Cádiz it was the one of ‘the submissives‘ the best troupe, which obtained a total of 704.74 points.