Venezuela’s Ángelo Colina Champions Spanish Comedy in the United States

Venezuelan comedian Ángelo Colina is breaking barriers in the United States, using Spanish humor to connect with a diverse audience, demonstrating language is no boundary to laughter.

Discovering Humor Across Languages

In the vibrant comedy world, language often becomes a conduit for laughter and connection. Venezuelan comedian Ángelo Colina, a 28-year-old immigrant residing in Brooklyn, proves that humor in Spanish in the United States is not only viable but also essential. In an interview with EFE, Colina shared insights into his journey and the universality of humor.

Colina, born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, draws parallels between humor and music regarding language. “You don’t have to understand everything to find humor,” he says, explaining how certain words, known as ‘fake friends,’ resemble each other in English and Spanish, helping his jokes resonate with a broader audience.

His comedic arsenal extends beyond language. Using physical humor and splicing his Spanish with English, Colina’s show ‘Ángelo Molina en español’ reflects the everyday life of Latinos living amidst English. “My comedy is born from observing how we live,” he says, emphasizing the bilingual reality of many Latinos.

Breaking Stereotypes: Non-Spanish Speakers Enjoying Comedy

Each performance is a testament to language being just one facet of his comedy. “At the end of the shows, people come up to me and speak in English, telling me they had an excellent time,” Colina notes, challenging the notion that non-Spanish speakers can’t enjoy his comedy.

Colina’s commitment to Spanish comedy stems from a deeper connection with his community. “Spanish is my thing,” he asserts, attributing his ability to make a living from comedy to the Latino community. “When I did comedy in English, my audience was still Latino,” he recalls, recognizing their desire to laugh in their or their family’s language.

This realization has made the Hispanic audience his priority. “Latinos are powerful and powerful in this country. We are an inevitable force,” Colina states with pride. He feels more at ease sharing his stories in Spanish, aware of the nuances and timing of humor his native language affords him.

Spanish Comedy: A Commitment to Community

Colina’s journey to the United States is a tale of persistence and adaptation. Leaving Venezuela in 2017 amid worsening conditions, he initially worked in Colombia before completing his journalism degree and joining his family in the U.S. His transition to comedy was fueled by his background in writing humor for others and his desire to pursue stand-up comedy.

As part of a national tour of Spanish-speaking comedians, Colina has performed in over a dozen U.S. cities, including Miami, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. His influence extends beyond comedy clubs; he has twice visited the White House as a representative of the Latino community, which numbers over 62 million in the U.S.

While New York is his home, Colina’s heart is in Utah, where his family resides. His journey from Venezuela to Colombia and finally to the U.S. speaks to the shared experiences of many immigrants seeking a better life.

From Journalism to Comedy: A Journey of Persistence

Colina’s humor touches on various themes, from the therapeutic skills of Dominican barbers to the emotional reticence of Latino men and observations of Latino behavior in their home countries versus the U.S. He admires fellow comedians like Nacho Redondo, Led Varela, Marcello Hernández, and others who share his mission of making the Latino community laugh in their preferred language.

Rejecting the technique of mocking others for laughs, Colina’s approach to comedy is inclusive and empathetic. “My intention is always to make people have a good time. If I have to make someone feel bad to do that, it doesn’t work,” he concludes.

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Ángelo Colina’s success in the United States celebrates cultural diversity and the power of laughter to transcend language barriers. His journey is about making people laugh and creating a space where the Latino community can enjoy humor in their native tongue, fostering a sense of belonging and joy.