Carlos Acosta, Director, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Acosta Danza (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.
Junor Souza - First Soloist for the English National Ballet (Brazil)
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Souza began dancing at age seven. He trained at the Escola de Dança Alice Arja in Brazil before receiving a scholarship to train at the English National Ballet School. He officially joined the Company in 2008 and rose steadily through the ranks. In 2014, his talent was highly recognized when he won both the Joint First Place and the People's Choice Award at the ENB's prestigious Emerging Dancer Competition. Souza has performed vast classical and contemporary roles, frequently partnering with acclaimed ENB lead dancers like Fernanda Oliveira.
His major roles include: Romeo in Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet and Derek Deane’s in-the-round production. Prince Siegfried in Derek Deane's Swan Lake. Albrecht in Mary Skeaping’s and Akram Khan's versions of Giselle. Nephew/Prince and Drosselmeyer (a role originated on him) in The Nutcracker. All three male leads (Conrad, Ali, and Lankendem) in Anna-Marie Holmes' Le Corsaire. Contemporary works choreographed by William Forsythe, Akram Khan, Ben Stevenson, and Liam Scarlett.
Beyond his performances on stage, he is the founder and participant of the Brazil Ballet Project, an outreach initiative focused on raising donations to keep underfunded dance schools open in Brazil while connecting them with international ballet collaborators
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.
Earlier in 2026, Oscar wrapped up major exhibitions including Collective Osmosis at DAS MINSK and Museum Barberini in Germany (March–August 2026) and featured work at the 36th Bienal de São Paulo. His solo exhibition, "Unfinished thinking: Paintings and Social Maps," at David Zwirner Paris, opens on October 19, 2026 at 108 Rue Vieille du Temple and features fresh paintings and social maps exploring labor, movement, geography, and collective consciousness.
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 Chocó region, she subsequently fled to the UK, where she has since become 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.
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.
Yelfris Valdés - trumpet player, composer and arranger (Cuba)
The Cuban-born trumpeter has established himself as one of the most versatile and in-demand instrumentalists on the contemporary British music scene. Celebrated for his ability to merge complex, traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms and Yoruba spiritual chants with cutting-edge electronic music, hypnotic soundscapes, and jazz improvisation, Valdéz' distinctive solo catalogue includes his highly praised solo album 'For The One.' (2019)
Born in Havana, Cuba, Valdés began studying classical music at age eight and was touring internationally by age 16. At 20, he joined the legendary Cuban son group Sierra Maestra, and performed with Buena Vista Social Club, Chucho Valdés, and Omara Portuondo, before moving to the UK.
Valdés' adaptability across genres has made him a frequent collaborator with massive mainstream pop stars, legendary rock figures, and pioneers of the London jazz explosion. He recorded on the Yussef Kamaal project (Black Focus), and has also played extensively with Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd, Yussef Dayes, and grime icon Kano. And well as with Madonna and Damon Albarn.
