Carlos Acosta, Ballet dancer (Cuba)
Probably the most famous afro-latino to have graced these shores, Carlos Acosta has been one of the Royal Ballet’s most successful and distinguished Principal Dancers until his retirement in 2016, and is now Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. The Cuban-born artistic director, choreographer and dancer trained at The National Ballet School of Havana and danced with many of the world’s most prestigious companies. After retiring from classical ballet in 2016 he has continued to choreograph and perform, in addition to acting, writing, and setting up his own dance company and foundation. He was awarded a CBE for his contribution to dance in 2014, and has received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award from The Royal Academy of Dance in recognition of his standing as one of the most influential figures in dance today.
Moisés Caicedo, Footballer (Ecuador)
From Ecuador, Moises is not only regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, he is one of the many world class Latin American footballers who have added flair to the English Premier League, wowing Chelsea fans and English audiences with his is technical ability and his defensive prowess. Born in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, the youngest of ten siblings, Caicedo would play football on the scrubland pitches of his hometown, the Mujer Trabajadora neighbourhood, where goals were marked out by piles of stones. As a child he met local football coach Iván Guerra, who would help Caicedo and his family by paying for his football boots, travel and food. After an unsuccessful trial with Barcelona in Guayacil on 1 February 2021, Caicedo joined Brighton and Hove and the rest is history, becoming one of the most stand out players in the Premier league.
Yung Filly, YouTuber and Urban music artist (Colombia)
Andres Felipé Barrientos, known professionally as Yung Filly, is a British YouTuber, internet comedian, singer, and general social media personality. Born in Cali he moved to the UK in 1997 as a refugee and was raised in Lewisham. He began his YouTube career in 2013, starting a music career in 2017. Beginning in 2018, he appeared on numerous shows, several of which he hosted. He now has nearly two million subscribers and was also part of the comedy group known as The Wall of Comedy. He has also collaborated on hit songs including 'Hold' and 'Clean Up'.
Gledys Ibarra, Actress (Venezuela)
Gledys Ibarra broke the mould back in Venuezuela as one of the country's first black telenovela stars, having starred in a string of popular Venezuelan telenovelas that have been translated into many languages and shown all around the world. She starred in the film “Sicario” by José Ramón Novoa, which won her best Supporting Actor at Tokyo Film Festival. Fast foreward to London and the renowned Venezuelan actress won the 2018 LUKAS AWARD for her moving performance in Juan Mayorga’s witty drama: “Darwin’s Tortoise. She also performed in ”Yerma” and “Bodas de Sangre” by Federico García Lorca in the Cervantes Theatre London. She's starred in “True Things About Me”, by BBC Films, "Thursdays" by Sian Phillips and Ruby Speaking on ITVX and recently starred in “La Mounstrua” in Madrid's Amaya Theatre.
Oscar Murillo, Artist (Colombia)
Born in La Paila, a small town in the Valle del Cauca, Oscar Murillo moved to London when he was 10 years old. After graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2012, Murillo’s career rocketed when Miami art dealers Don and Mera Rubell - known for discovering the likes of Basquiat and Keith Haring - saw his paintings at an independent art fair and asked to meet him. By February 2013, Sotheby’s, Christies and Phillips sold 24 pieces for a total of $4.8 million. www.saatchigallery.com/artists/oscar_murillo
Rene Alvarez, Bandleader (Cuba)
Rene Alvarez is one of the most successful Latin musicians based in the UK. A two time LUKAS Awrads winner, award-winning Santiago-born singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has for a decade been Europe’s most sought-after salsa vocalist and bandleader. Having toured the world with his Salsa outfit The Cuban Combination, Rene has played to the masses, headlining at festivals, for celebrities in private members clubs, to the world’s wealthiest in intimate mansion concerts, aswell as being featured in the latest James Bond movie ‘No Time to Die.’ Now Rene leads Alvarez Funk, a sensational 7-piece high-energy Cuban funk band, described as ‘James Brown meets Irakere meets Fela Kuti’
Ana Victoria Mendoza de Bastidas, Anglican priest (Colombia)
Ana Victoria is an Afro-Colombian biologist and the first female Colombian Anglican priest. After being kidnapped by armed traffickers while she was working with indigenous communities in the Choco region, she subsequently fled to the UK, where she has since become a role model, a peace builder. When learning about Ana Victoria’s fate, one of the most prominent Colombian actors and directors - Alejandra Borrero - turned her testimony into a monologue, which Latinolife has published in 4 parts. Here is the concluding part of Ana Victoria’s serialised story.
Yanet Fuentes, Contemporary dancer (Cuba)
Born in Havana, Yanet has been the most sensual and talented Cuban female dancers, since her arrival in the UK 20 years ago. Yanet graduated with honours in Popular dances, Modern and Contemporary dance, Ballet and Folkloric dances from the world famous National School of Contemporary and Folkloric Dance in Havana, Cuba. A dancer at La Maison Casa de la Moda in Havana, she was a three-time winner (2001, 2002, 2004) in the professional couples category at the Tropicana World Salsa Championships, held in London, the city she made her home. In 2010, Yanet appeared on BBC's So You Think You Can Dance as a contestant.Her other television appearances include 'The Generation Game' (BBC), 'This Morning' (ITV), The Paul O'Grady Show (ITV) and as a dance coach for 'Strictly Dance Fever' (BBC). She has also appeared in music videos for artists including Alicia Keys and Craig David and toured with Shakira.
Fernando Montaño, Ballet Dancer (Colombia)
Originally from the city of Buena Aventura on the Pacific coast of Colombia, dancer Fernando Montaño is now a soloist with the Royal Ballet. Twice a winner of the LUKAS Personality of the Year (2013 and 2014), Fernando has performed for the Queen and Michele Obama, modelled for Vivienne Westwood, and has been honoured by the city of New York and the President of Colombia. From January 2016 Fernando began to be a judge on the first ever series of 'Dancing with the Stars' in Colombia. He is a patron of the charity Children Change Colombia.
Lucy Calcines, Singer (Cuba)
Cuban-Spanish singer- songwriter, Lucy Calcines, became an overnight sensation when her Blind Audition on the The Voice UK became the show’s most viewed performance globally, with over 32 million views. She achieved a 4-chair turn by superstar coaches Meghan Trainor, Sir Tom Jones, Olly Murs and Will.i.am and went on to become a Semi-finalist. This year Lucy became the first female headliner at LatinoLife in the Park, which this year became this most ticketed Latin Music event ever in the UK , selloing 14,000 tickets. Became the first UK Latina to sing her single live on BBC radio 4, where she had Women’s Hour host Anita Rani dancers in the studio. Her career is just about to began. She is definitely one to watch!
