2025 Parade Comparsa Application

Photo by Kyle Adler

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DATE OF PARADE: Sunday, May 25, 2025

EARLY BIRD APPLICATION DEADLINE: Saturday, February 15, 2025 by 11:59 pm

LATE APPLICATION DEADLINE: Saturday, March 15, 2025 by 11:59 pm

DEFINITION OF A COMPARSA

A comparsa is an artistic, street theater performance group with its own theme, cast of dancers, musicians, other performers, with choreography, costumes, props, and floats. A comparsa creates a new theme for each annual Carnaval San Francisco. To express this theme a comparsa builds a new float, choreographs new dances, performs new music, and sews/buys new costumes. Comparsas must have at least 30 dance performers, not including volunteers. A community organization, local business, company, government agency, or political entity is not a comparsa.

JUDGING CATEGORIES

• Contemporary / World Fusion
• Traditional / Folkloric
• Brazilian
• Caribbean
• Children & Youth

PLACING (UPDATED)

*$700 to the 1st place winners of each category

*There will be no more OVERALL WINNERS.

• Contemporary / World Fusion: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• Traditional / Folkloric: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• Brazilian: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• Caribbean: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• Children & Youth: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

JUDGING CRITERIA (UPDATED)

* Overall Visual Impact & has been REMOVED.

• Perpetual Motion (0-5pts)

• Harmony/Balance of Form and Color (0-10pts)

• Clarity of Comparsa Theme (0-10pts)

• Standout Costumes/Regalia (0-10pts)

• Music (0-10pts)

• Dance (0-10pts)

• Carnaval Spirit (0-10pts)

• Creativity & Authenticity (0-10pts)

QUESTIONS OR INQUIRIES ABOUT THE PARADE

Arturo Carrillo, Parade Director: arturo@carnavalsf.org or

Marisol Melara, Comparsa Coordinator: parade@carnavalsf.org

Carnaval San Francisco has the right to refuse and/or prevent any person(s), vehicle(s), float(s) or Comparsa(s) from entering the parade for any reason, in addition, but not limited to, COVID-19, safety, condition, and size. A failure to comply by Carnaval San Francisco guidelines including not registering and paying required application fees can and will result in removal and disqualification of your participation in Carnaval San Francisco. 

DISCLAIMER

Carnaval San Francisco has the right to refuse and/or prevent any person(s), vehicle(s), float(s) or Comparsa(s) from entering the parade for any reason, in addition, but not limited to, safety, condition, and size. A failure to comply by Carnaval San Francisco guidelines including not registering and paying required application fees can and will result in removal and disqualification of your participation in Carnaval San Francisco.

By submitting this application, you accept this waiver and disclaimer.

Waiver and Release: By participating in this Event, our comparsa and I do so at our own risk. We assume all risk of injury, illness, damage or loss to us or our property that might result, including without limitation, any loss or theft of personal property. We consent to medical treatment in the event of injury, accident and/or illness during the Event. We agree on behalf of myself (and my entire comparsa/organization, group and members) to release and discharge the organizers of this event, its principals, its producers, coordinators, agents & directors, all sponsors and their representatives and team from any and all claims or causes of action (known or unknown) arising out of their negligence. We acknowledge that we have carefully read this ‘Waiver and Release’ and fully understand that it is a release of liability. By my signature below, we are waiving any right that our comparsa and I may have to bring legal action to assert a claim against any and all Event sponsors for their negligence. We also verify that we have obtained all of our members consent to this Waiver and Disclaimer and hereby indemnify Cultura y Arte Native de las Americas (CANA) and Carnaval San Francisco and its agents from any claims asserted by any of our members individually. We hereby grant full permission to any and all of the foregoing to use our names and likenesses in any broadcast, telecast, video or print media reporting or advertising of the Event without compensation.

I have read this information and understand it.  By signing this, my comparsa/organization and all of its members agree to follow the above Carnaval San Francisco rules.   Failure to sign will result in my comparsa/organization not being allowed to participate in the Parade.