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Things we love about...Spanish Fiestas and Festivals
The Spanish peninsula and its outgoing and infamous inhabitants, is well known for annual street parties in every town all over the country, celebrations of various saints throughout the year and above all, for its endless summer…
5 SIGHTS OF SOUTH AMERICA YOU WON'T FORGET
Bored of beaches, banal museums and grotty hotels? Want to do something different this time you go away? South America harbours some of the most breath-taking natural phenomena in the entire world. No tour guide needed, just a…
Juan Formell (1942-2014)
Simplemente...without Juan Formell Cuban music wouldn’t be the same. Those of you who ever couldn’t stop humming Abre que voy, Me Pone la Cabeza Mala, or Me Mantego after an amazing party know very well what we mean…
Things You Should Know About....Latin American Female Artists
Ten inspiring and intriguing female artists whose life and art was inextricably linked to Latin America.
LATIN LONDONER #14 Carlos Cruz - Union Leader
Carlos Cruz is Union Learning Organiser in United Migrant Workers Education Project (UMWEP), which is a non-profit organisation that provides support and informal education to migrant workers in Great Britain. His inspiring…
LATIN LONDONER # 13 Eddy Vents - Kizomba teacher
Eddy Vents has been surrounded by Lusophone music from the early childhood. His undoubted passion for kizomba and exceptional teaching skills has made him a winner of the award for Kizomba Teacher of the Year in 2014. This is his…
LATIN LONDONER #12 David Benitez - Tango Dancer
United by romantic love and passion for tango David & Kim Benitez are not only great teachers, but also spectacular performers. The sensuality and magnetism of their dance made them win the LUKAS award for Tango Performers of…
LATN LONDONER #11 Ana Maria Vera - Classical Pianist
An exceptionally talented Bolivian pianist and child prodigy Ana Maria Vera from her debut at the age of eight has enchanted audiences all over the world with her dazzling virtuosity. This is her story…
LATIN LONDONER #10 Ossie Ardiles - Footballer and World Cup winner
Scouted after Argentina’s 1978 World Cup victory, Osvaldo Ardiles was one of the first foreign footballers to play in the Premier League. He became arguably the best player in English football at the time and his FA Cup victory…
LATIN LONDONER #9 Paco Peña - Flamenco Guitarist
The Spanish Flamenco Maestro who has become living example of an artist that has explored the best of London’s diversity and multiculturalism whilst cherishing his Spanish roots to make simply beautiful music.
LATIN LONDONER #8 BIanca Jagger - Style Diva and Human Rights Activist
A ‘one off’, a glamorous Latin American who has poured her passion and pride into doing the right thing; an example of Latin American solidarity personified.
LATIN LDONDONER #7 Julieta Hernández Adame - Visual Artist
Mexican born Julieta Hernández Adame is a talented artist and printmaker who skilfully uses the urban, the industrial and above all the power of words to make us reflect on the world we leave in. She was voted the Visual Artist…
LATIN LONDONER #6 Camilo Menjura - Musician and ChoIr Master
One of London’s most loved singer-songwriters and choir master, this two-time LUKAS winner for Musician of Year specializes in Afro-Colombian, Afro-Peruvian and Andean Jazz. Camilo is also a renowned choral master, leading the…
LATIN LONDONER #5 Katya Torres de la Rocha - Entrepreneur
Mexican born Katya Torres de la Rocha, is the CEO of www.mexgrocer.co.uk. which sells authentic Mexican food groceries and at 40 years old was voted Business Personality of the Year by both the public and the judges. Here is her…
Surrogate Latino #2 Monika Molnar - Samba Dancer and Teacher
Monika Molnar is a Hungarian from Slovakia and two times LUKAS winner of the Brazilian Dance Teacher Award. Here is her story
LATIN LONDONER #3 LAMAR - Vocalist, Composer, Producer
Born in Barcelona in 1979, Javier Moreno got his Flamenco influence from his Andalucian dad. He grew up in a little Catalunyan village, playing in the streets and 'with a great sense of freedom' Moreno before emigrating…
Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America (1935 - 2009)
It is 11 years since Mercedes Sosa - the singer and exponent of what became known as 'nueva cancion' - died, but her musical legacy lives on, not just in her native Argentina or even Latin America but across the globe.…
We Owe Paco So Much
Paco Peña, one of the world's most celebrated flamenco guitarists mourns an irreplaceable Flamenco soul and friend
Paco de Lucia
Paco de Lucía: (Francisco Sánchez Gomez), guitarist and composer, born 21 December 1947; died 25 February 2014
TOP TEN Recent Latin Albums produced in the UK
Latin music is not an easy thing to produce, let alone promote, in the UK; you need real instruments, great musicians and arrangements to make it sound good, and there is rarely any money to work on. Despite the lack of exposure…
LATIN FLAVA – The bloom and burst of London’s Latin and Hispanic cuisine
From Peruvian and Mexican haute cuisine to Colombian and Venezuelan street food, via the meaty Argentine parillas and Brazilian rodizios, London is the latest city to be hit by the global craze in Latin cuisine. Spanish TV Star…
FOUND IN TRANSLATION
In 2014 we awarded Osvaldo Ardiles The lifetime Achievement Award at the LUKAS. Why? Because this little Argentine is one of the most important figures in the history of Latin American football in the UK. Without Ossie, there…
‘Siembra’ and the Birth of The Latin Nation
In 1978, Ruben Blades, a young Panamanian “Sonero” and Willie Colon, a New York-born trombone player, producer and poster boy for the already booming salsa industry of New York, got together and released what would become the…
BOGOTÁ – prepare to be surprised!
The Colombian Capital offers so much more than it seems! So hop on a buseta and grab yourself a almojabana for our Bogotá city guide...
Latin American Myths and Legends
"I'm learning about really scary myths and legends..." my son recently told me, recounting all the famous Greek tales, Cyclops, The Trojan Horse etc etc. "Ha," I replied. "Those are nothing compared…
Divine Sensuality: The Genius of Juan Luis Guerra
From his lyrics that verge on magical realism, to his intensely sensual melodies and his relationship with God, we praise the undecipherable enigma that is Juan Luis Guerra, one of Latin America’s most sublime music makers and…
...The Greatest Latin American Plays of all time
A selection by Daniel Goldman, Artistic Director of CASA Latin American Theatre Festival
Lease of Life: an interview with Draco Rosa
Having made Ricky Martin's global career with the songs "Livin' La Vida Loca," "She Bangs" and "Shake Your Bon-Bon," Bobby Draco Rosa is considered Latin American music royalty. The two…
Paco Peña's Quimeras
An uplifting and inspiring piece that tells an emotive story and touches political themes through music, dance and the spoken word
The Big Chill
Amaranta Wright meets the Argentine tennis giant Juan Martin de Potro, the youngest ever winner of the US Open, Wimbledon semi-finalist and 2-time Olympic medallist, and finds a refreshing focus on playing rather than being a…
LATIN LONDONER #2 Vanessa Carvalho - Brazilian Singer and Dancer
Vanessa Carvalho from Salvador, Bahia – Brazil. started singing and dancing at the age of 8 and performed with many Brazilian artists. She embarked on a musical adventure together with Leo Mantini from Rome, which became that…
Argentina's strange brand of nationalism
Argentine nationalistic fervour rests on symbol and myth. This can be impossibly romantic – or eerily macabre. We look at the strange phenomenon of Argentine national fervour from Perón to the present day
Split Identity
Viggo Mortenson’s Argentine background (hence his perfect porteño accent) is unknown to most film fans. In this film, the actor famous for his role as Aragorn in Lord of The Rings, The Road and Eastern Promises embraces his ‘…
Things That Matter to...La Mala Rodriguez
La Mala Rodriguez is one of the most successful Hispanic artists today. When Rosalia was still in her nappies, Mala was recording with some of the world's most commercial Latino artists as the only Spanish rapper to gain…
The Latino Behind the Legend: Phil Manzanera
Before being presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to British Music by PInk Floyd's David Gilmour at this year's the LUKAS Gala, few people knew much about this London born Latino. We invite…
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