I am London
  • Home
  • I Am London 2025
  • PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS
    • I AM LONDON 2024 >
      • Diego Cortes
      • Willy Aristide
      • Angela Gjurichanin
      • Selma Popovic
      • Firas Al Basri
      • Amsa Yaro
      • Jules Gutierrez
      • Camila Ariza
      • Patricia Vasconcellos Medeiros
      • Al-Asala Dabke Group
    • I Am London 2023 >
      • Susan Abdula
      • Gaston Mabaya
      • Grace Estrada
      • Chinelo Ezenwa
      • Francis Hinnah
      • Eman Ahmad (Al Sayyah)
      • Sandra Pineda
      • Angad Singh
      • Leticia Tang
    • I Am London 2022
    • I am London 2021
    • I am London 2020
    • I am London 2019
    • I AM LONDON 2018 >
      • - Osama, Sebastien & Lisseth
      • - Alba, Delveen & Afeez
      • - Emilio & Eman
      • - Stanislav, Fan & May
      • - Irina, Carlos & Joan
    • I am London 150 (2017)
    • I am London 2015
    • I am London 2014
    • I am London 2013
  • About
  • Contact

Celebrating London's Diversity 

Picture

Alba Cielo Velasquez

10/30/2018

6 Comments

 
Picture
If you met Alba Cielo Velasquez at her housekeeping day job, you might not guess she once spent weekends performing salsa, tango and merengue at her own seafood restaurant in Colombia. But you should see her teaching London children to dance. Since she arrived in Canada in 2004 with her family, the mom and grandmother has devoted her free time to teaching Colombian folklore dance to children in London.

Alba was here only a month, when she started a dance group with new friends she met during English as a Second Language classes. In the beginning, they were just a few couples who would gather at each other’s apartments to dance the nights away.

Then the group grew and word spread through London’s Colombian community that a professional dance instructor was living in the city. Alba’s new friends asked if she had time to teach children. And Ritmo Y Café was born.
​
Over the past 15 years, the dance company has performed at many special events and festivals – part of Alba’s mission to share Latin American culture with London and to instill confidence and pride in young people.

“I want my students to learn about their background and where they came from and never forget about their roots. I want them to keep their culture alive, and for them to learn about the country where either they or their parents came from,” says Alba.

These days, Alba teaches about 60 youth, charging enough to cover the basics, such as rent for school gyms and material for costumes Alba sews herself. She says her payment is knowing she has contributed to the rich multicultural fabric of London.

“I love to dance. It is my passion and it makes people happy. I want to share that happiness with Londoners.”
6 Comments
Diana Montanez
10/30/2018 11:41:39 am

Alba is one of the best dance teacher I ever met. It was an honour to be inher dance group when I was younger. I would highly recommended to be in her group as well watching her performances.

Reply
Katy Boychuk
10/30/2018 02:19:37 pm

Thanks for sharing your experience Diana!

Reply
Lorena
10/30/2018 06:09:58 pm

I am a proud mom who thanks Cielo with my heart for fostering the roots of our culture in the hearts of our children who are growing up in this beautiful Canadian culture. Thank you Cielo for teaching our children with so much love and dedication.

Reply
Manuela Castro
11/1/2018 08:08:24 pm

The work Cielo does is an invaluable gift to our community. I am forever thankful for her time and teachings. I love you Cielito

Reply
Carlos Manuel Arias
11/13/2018 04:43:34 pm

Alba
Greetings. I hope to visit you soon in London. I`m living in Vancouver for now, from Colombia, love Salsa dance.
Carlos

Reply
Cielo Narcisist link
7/15/2019 02:52:38 pm

https://m.facebook.com/100002889775155/posts/1592571097515867/

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    October 2018

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • I Am London 2025
  • PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS
    • I AM LONDON 2024 >
      • Diego Cortes
      • Willy Aristide
      • Angela Gjurichanin
      • Selma Popovic
      • Firas Al Basri
      • Amsa Yaro
      • Jules Gutierrez
      • Camila Ariza
      • Patricia Vasconcellos Medeiros
      • Al-Asala Dabke Group
    • I Am London 2023 >
      • Susan Abdula
      • Gaston Mabaya
      • Grace Estrada
      • Chinelo Ezenwa
      • Francis Hinnah
      • Eman Ahmad (Al Sayyah)
      • Sandra Pineda
      • Angad Singh
      • Leticia Tang
    • I Am London 2022
    • I am London 2021
    • I am London 2020
    • I am London 2019
    • I AM LONDON 2018 >
      • - Osama, Sebastien & Lisseth
      • - Alba, Delveen & Afeez
      • - Emilio & Eman
      • - Stanislav, Fan & May
      • - Irina, Carlos & Joan
    • I am London 150 (2017)
    • I am London 2015
    • I am London 2014
    • I am London 2013
  • About
  • Contact