"Latinolife's outreach work in the local community  helps to encourage a wide range of children and families to come to the festival." 

FESTSPACE (EU-Research Project on inclusivity & festivity in public spaces)

“Latinolife is consistently seen as making a positive contribution to the city, for its inclusivity and low environmental impact.”  
Andrew Smith, Professor of Urban Experiences, University of westminister
 

Latinolife took las Hermanas Garcia, two teenage bolero sensations from mexico, to Coleridge Primary School in North London, where they left an entire school assembly of 500 children silent and open-mouthed.

Sonia Damian, Spanish Teacher: "I’ve been teaching in the school for many years and it was the first time my pupils saw any music from the region in Mexico I come from. the children were mesmerised by their beautiful boleros and were queuing up to get autographs like they were superstars. the children saw me in a different light afterwards... I was not just foreign, they could put me in a context of beauty and art, and I felt somehow they had more respect for me.” 

We took British-Ecuadorian rapper Guala into Arts and Media Secondary School in Islington (AMSI) to talk about being Latino in the music industry and to perform with the kids from the school. 

Jonathan Dow, Head of Music: “Guala was just great and the children really loved it. It was especially lovely to see the smiles on the faces of our Latin American and Spanish speaking students. The opportunity for these students to see and hear someone who they obviously relate to is so important” 

Natxo Castillo Acosta, Head of Languages, AMSI “Yesterday's session was excellent at all levels. The kids really enjoyed it and it was eye opening for our little Latino community. Thank you very much and I am looking forward to any possible future ways of collaboration. Muchas gracias de corazón.”

Guala also visited Woodside High Secondary School in Tottenham, the school he went to as a child. A gifted bi-lingual lyricist, Guala grew up in Tottenham and, after a life on the streets, turned his life around through music. He talked about his experiences , gave song-writing workshops and performed to the school.

Ryon, student, Woodside High School: "Guala was inspirational. It was cool to see him rap in both Spanish and English. He has amazing flow and beat."  

Angela Wallace, Headmistress, Woodside High School:  "Thank you so much for your time and generosity, the kids loved the workshops and the concert, as we did too! We would love to do future work together, and We'll spread the word about the festival in Finsbury Park!"

Guala, rapper: "It felt really good to go back to the school I went to and work with the kids. Music got me out of trouble because it gave me an outlet. I love doing workshops because I know I would have benefitted from a mentor at that age."

We sent Royal Ballet principal dancer Fernando Montaño gave an assembly to 200 primary school children...He recounted his amazing story of how he came from buena aventura, one of colombia's most poverty stricken areas and most affected by violence, to become a principal dancer at the royal ballet. 

Fernando Montaño:"Going into school to talk to the kids was a pleasure. I think they were able to understand why we have to train so hard.

Fernando then taught a group of 15 children a special choreography based on the moves of footballers, which they joined him to perform on at LatinoLife in the Park

Jess Keen, Dance Teacher: "Fernando coming in to the school was a great motivation the kids rehearse at their school, made me very happy and more so to see how their faces lit up when they performed with Fernando at the festival.  

Fernando Montaño, world re-knowned ballet dancer: "We had a lot of fun. when they joined me to dance. I hope that maybe some them may want to start lessons and become a dancer of the future!”

We sent Raquel Greenberg, one of the UK’s leading Tango teachers, into Coleridge Primary School for 6 weeks to teach children the art of Argentine tango.

Rebecca Godfrey, Head of Dance: “Raquel Greenberg came to teach six Tango sessions for children in Years 4, 5 and 6. Raquel was brilliant with the children and they really enjoyed the opportunity to learn Tango and then perform it…” 

We ran 'Mini Copa Americas' Latin American football tournaments where the teams represented different Latin American countries, for 5 years involved Haringey, Hascjney, Camden and Islington Schools. We got embassies to sponsor the teams by providing shirts. Years later, one of our winners, got a scholarship to Man City Academy, which he then left to go to Oxford University.

Ben Corbyn, football coach and tournament organiser: "We had such fun running the tournaments, where we introduced children to the concept and the skills of Latin American flair, that has so many times broken down even the hardest defences of European teams!"

Salman Ali, Head of PE Ashmount Primary: "The children from Ashmount Primary had a great time at La Clave’s Futsal Copa America. The atmosphere and organization of the day were excellent. A huge thanks to Amaranta for the all the work she put in, in making the event so enjoyable and successful.” 
 

Marco Santana, the charismatic Brazilian batucada leader behind Tribo, spent six weeks in Rokesely Primary School alomg with Robin Lurie. The result was Samba Haze, who then performed at LatinoLife in the Park.

Robin Lurie, Haze Samba (from email) “I just wanted to say a big thank you to you guys for such a wonderful day on Saturday. It was so well-organised and the atmosphere was brilliant. My kids had an experience that I know will stay with them for the rest of their lives! I really appreciate your patience helping us and dealing with my demands! Please consider us for future events....” 

We sent Fadi, one of the UK’s leading salsa teachers, into Ashmount School to teach children the wonders of salsa dancing. At the end of the six weeks learning salsa the children were rewarded with a trip to see the Latin musical ‘In the Heights’ written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Jess Keen, dance teacher and school trip volunteer. "It was such as treat for our children to go to a West End Musical with a different twist, showing how Latin culture contributes to contemporary culture."

We sent DJ Jose Luis into Parkview Secondary School to teach students DJing skills and answer questions about his career as a DJ and events producer.

Idalina Figueira de Abreu, Head of Languages: "The DJ session with the kids was amazing. The students enjoyed it so much, some of them are still talking about it. Jose Luis  was outstanding with the children and has definitely inspired some into DJing, as a hobby and even some as future careers.” 
 

 
LatinoLife director Amaranta Wright gave an assembly at Highgate Wood secondary school, to encourage young people to take up language learning. 

Jess Taylor, school governor, Highgate Wood: “Amaranta's talk about her experience building her career and business brings languages to life for lots of children at a time when sadly there is little funding or focus on languages in the British educational system.” 

Amaranta Wright also went to talk to students of architecture and cities at Westminster University about what makes a festival in the city public space inclusive.

Andrew Smith, Professor of Urban Experiences, University of Westminister: “Latinolife is consistently seen as making a positive contribution to the city, for its inclusivity and low environmental impact, which is why we invited Amaranta to come in to talk to our under-graduate students.”