Queer Cumbia Dance Paty

homeLA x Human Resources
Queer Cumbia Dance Party

Friday, April 24, 2026
Human Resources, Los Angeles
6:30–9:30 PM

Schedule
6:30–7:30 PM — Dance Instruction with Jasmine Flores
7:30–9:30 PM — DJ Set + Dance Party with Butchona

Tickets
$20 — Lesson + Dance Party (6:30 PM entry)
$5–$10 — Dance Party Only (7:30 PM entry)

homeLA and Human Resources are teaming up for a night of queer cumbia—dance, rhythm, and collective joy—presented in conjunction with Gary “Ganas” Garay’s exhibition, Cumbia de mi tierra at Human Resources.

Cumbia has long been a music of migration, memory, and movement—traveling across borders and evolving through community. This special evening brings that spirit to the dance floor, beginning with an all-levels dance lesson by Jasmine Flores followed by a queer cumbia dance party led by Butchona, with DJs Lady Soul and Killed by Synth.

Whether you’re new to cumbia or already fluent in the rhythm, this is an invitation to learn, gather, and move together.

Part of Cumbia de mi tierra, Gary “Ganas” Garay’s exhibition at Human Resources, this evening extends the exhibition into lived experience—where sound, movement, and community animate the cultural histories and contemporary vitality of cumbia.

Come early to learn. Stay late to dance.

See you on the dance floor!!

This program is supported by Human Resources and homeLA

About the Artists and Partners

Butchona is a DJ collective and monthly lesbian party based in Los Angeles. Pulling from the rich history of Mexican norteño culture, Butchona aims to be a space where lesbians and other queer and trans individuals can reclaim part of their Mexican identity on their own terms. Spinning a blend of corridos, quebradita, banda and more, Butchona is the family house party where you can always show up as your authentic self.

Jasmine Flores  — Jayzeejazz — California native Jasmine Flores lives and breathes the rhythm of Los Angeles, working as a full-time professional dancer, choreographer, instructor, and movement artist in the heart of the city’s creative flow. Jasmine made her live television debut in 2018 at the American Latin Music Awards (The ALMAs), performing with reggaeton star J Alvarez. She closed out that same year with another major televised appearance at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, dancing alongside the legendary Kool & The Gang. Her career continued to rise as she hit some of the most iconic stages in the world, including Crypto.com Arena, The Microsoft Theatre, The Globe Theatre, the Universal Dance Awards, The Forum, and more — performing with artists such as YoYo, Darkeil ShahKar, and others. Jasmine has also brought her fierce energy to legendary Los Angeles venues including Whisky a Go Go, The Roxy Theatre, and The Viper Room, solidifying her presence in the city’s most historic entertainment spaces. Most recently, Jasmine reached a global career milestone, performing with Karol G at the NFL Opening Games in Brazil, a major live televised event in São Paulo. She continues to expand her artistry, traveling internationally for burlesque shows, fire performances, and immersive dance experiences that blend storytelling with movement. A true hybrid dancer, Jasmine trains and performs across multiple styles — salsa, jazz, Latin fusion, contemporary, hip hop, and burlesque — working closely with celebrity dancers and choreographers. Her versatility has led her across countless stages, music videos, and creative productions, always ready for the biggest occasions and boldest challenges. Beyond performing, Jasmine is a passionate dance instructor, mentor, and community builder, teaching full-time across Los Angeles and cultivating inclusive spaces for dancers of all levels. She lives her dream daily — inspiring through movement, culture, and connection, and celebrating the magic that happens every time she steps onto a stage.

Gary “Ganas” Garay (b. 1977) is a multidisciplinary artist, performer, DJ and record collector based in Los Angeles. His artistic practice is informed by his lived experiences crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, recognizing and drawing attention to the rich and dynamic culture of everyday life. He is the founder of Mas Exitos music collective, host of the dublab program Mas Exitos con Ganas, and co-founder of Discos Rolas, a record label and collaborative project dedicated to the cosmic sounds and musical histories of Latin America.Cumbia de mi Tierrais an art exhibit and installation that celebrates cumbia music from Mexico through ephemera, material culture, and art. From humble beginnings at family gatherings in Tepito and Peñon de los Baños, Mexican cumbia transformed the folkloric, regional dance music style from Colombia as it took roots in Mexico City and Puebla and in the diaspora in New York, New Jersey and LA. Independent labels including Discos Dancing, Discos Room, and Discos Lambda released records of Mexican cumbia groups alongside bootlegcompilations of South American cumbia. Sonideros such as La Changa, La Conga, Sonido Samurai and thousands of others not only set up mobile soundsystems throughout Mexico but also DJ their vast collections and perform saludos (shout-outs). Groups such as Super Grupo Colombia and Los Angeles Azules emerged in Mexico City innovating the cumbia by imitating the bass-heavy and mediated sound of cumbia sonidera. 

Curated by artist Gary Garay, the exhibit brings together collector Jose Hernández, photographer Stefan Ruiz, and artist Yair Sarmiento. Drawing on the extensive collection of Jose Hernández, Gary Garay tells a story of cumbia sonidera in Mexico through curation and the creation of new work based on this archive. Consisting of flyers, posters, stickers, sonidero business cards, and cassette mixtapes and cassette recordings of specific bailes from the 1980s and 1990s Mexico City constitute a counter-history of print and graphic design. With its wild appropriation of Looney Toons, Hannah Barbera, Betty Boop, this visual vernacular helped transform cumbia from rural folkloric popular dance music from Colombia into a modern, urban, soundsystem-based culture. From the printing press to the record press, typewritten and Xeroxed cassette covers, screen printing, this fast-paced, inexpensive independent media culture of the marginalized masses.
 

Human Resources was founded in 2010 by a team of creative individuals who seek to broaden engagement with contemporary and conceptual art, with an emphasis on performative and underexposed modes of expression. Human Resources is not-for-profit and seeks to foster widespread public appreciation of the performative arts by encouraging maximum community access. Human Resources also serves as a point of convergence for diverse and disparate art communities to engage in conversation and idea-sharing promoting the sustainability of non-traditional art forms. We are a volunteer organization.

homeLA is a performance platform that critically engages with the sites, histories, and narratives of Los Angeles to reveal the complexity of the city—past, present, and future—through varied contextual imaginings of “home.” We support experimental performance makers within the fields of dance and art through programs, dialogue, and advocacy. www.homela.org  / @home_la