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image and poem "I feel small"


Latin American music

Workshops include teaching native instruments such as panpipes, flutes, as well as Spanish and of European background such as guitar and songs and singing techniques the Latin American continent in Quechua, Aymara.

Sofia provides a show and also workshops where she invites well know musicians such as Diego Laverde or Jose Navarro who both have a wide range of musical knowledge not only on delivering musical workshops but also about culture and the Latin American heritage which requires extending our links to academics and specialists on the different subjects, from coastal music to Andean, Mexican, Chilean, Cuban and so on.

With a BA in Latin American studies Sofia has studies in ethnomusicology and a MA in life oral histories and another in cultural studies, most of her studies are referred to Latin America from film, music to literature and politics. Sofia is currently delivering talks and papers around these issues and is very kind to share her experience as a academic and as an artists through out her workshops.

She has a vast experience on delivering music workshops to children and has successful completed ' Bird Songs'project in 2005 producing the first CD of Latin American lullabies with children of different backgrounds especially with those of the Latin American community “Raices Latinas”.

This project was funded by Capital foundation and was launch in 2005 at the Bolivar hall in a collective concert with the participation of the most representative female singers of the community in London, as well as being promoted in Peru by Dolly producciones and at the National radio of Bogotá Colombia. More info see article.

Previously Sofia has develop different cultural projects such as ' Noche Andina' in 2004 funded by the Awards for all, which included Latin American dance workshops for children, leading successfully more than 30 children to perform with life music in full traditional costumes at the Bolivar Hall… see pictures and comments: www.properuvianartuk.com


 

Talks

Latin American studies, oral history and Latin American music in general.

Sofia has been cosntatnly-providing talks on different cultural venues such as libraries, universities and radio programmes in regards to Latin America.

From poetry to music and from oral histories to Latin American cultural issues such as refugees, migration, intercultural studies as well as sacred and ritualistic themes and songs form the high Andes.  Also on the different literature figures such as Cesar Vallejo, Neruda, Sor Juana Ines de la cruz, to more contemporanean ones like the Chicano movement for example.

She has also lead the oral history project at the Evelyn Oldfield Unit “Crossing borders

www.refugeestories.org/about/partners.html

Which is available on free CD ROMs to share her finding on this matter, as well as through paper materials, a documentary, exhibitions and a book which is about to be publish, with histories, poems, and testimonies of Latin Americans based in London since the 70s (the book has been funded by community champions). Her research reflects the Diaspora, culture and the history of the Latin American community since the arrival of Latin Americans and their integration to London life.

More information on crossing borders please visit:

www.untoldlondon.org.uk/news/ART40460.html