Spaniards among UK's most popular Latinos

The event will be hosted by Spanish TV presenter Boris Izaguirre and Cuban-fury star Yanet Fuentes. Line up for the gala ceremony so far includes:

Paco Peña (LUKAS Fellowship) & special guest

Rafael Amargo (Spain's no.1 flamenco celebrity) 

Salsa Superstar Yan Collazo (winner of Concert by International Artist of the Year) performing with Dorance Lorza (Tropical Act of the Year)

Aggro Santos (3 times Top Ten artist) 

Shows by Tropicalia, Cali Swing, Dancemyway  

Richard Marcel's (from UK's Strictly TV dance programme ) Latin Dance Extravaganza, with the UK's best salsa, samba, tango and kizomba dancers.

It was a particularly strong year for Spaniards with recently arrived  trouvadour Javier Moreno earning hearts of voters and judges alike as Vocalist of the Year and  
Spanish Celebrity chef Omar Allibhoy competing for Personality of the Year Award, the only award yet to be announced at the gala ceremony.

In music, Colombian-born Dorance Lorza and Sexteto Café – a leading band in the vibrant and exciting London salsa scene - wins Tropical Act of the Year.  London’s internationally-renowned Bolivian classical pianist Ana Maria Vera takes Classical Act of the Year.

Patrick Forge's DA LATA scoops Brazilian Act of the Year while Cuban-London fusion band WARA, the new sound of Latin London, wins Alternative Act of the Year. Recently-arrived Spanish trouvadour Javier Moreno earned the hearts of voters and judges as Vocalist of the Year. 

The British Museum’s stunning Beyond El Dorado show wins the Exhibition of the Year for its outstanding contribution to Latin Art. The Barbican’s Casa Latin American Theatre Festival wins Theatre Festival of the Year. Mexi-Londoner Julieta Hernandez picks up Best Visual Artist of the Year.

The Rich Mix venue in Shoreditch, club-night Latin Krazy at Bar Salsa in Charing Cross Road and London’s Spanish-language promoter Carnaval de la Comedia all pick up awards. And the UK’s top 10 restaurants winning awards for cuisine from different Latin countries are all London-based (apart from ‘one outside-London’ category).  
The winner of Latin Personality of the Year will be announced at the gala ceremony. Charismatic and effusive Spanish celebrity chef Omar Allibhoy, Head Chef at the El Pirata de Tapas restaurant in Westbourne Grove, is among the five finalists. Royal Ballet dancers Fernando Montaño (Colombia), Thiago Soares (Brazil) and Marianela Nuñez (Argentina) are also contending. 
Osvaldo Ardiles, who pioneered Latin American football in the UK when he transferred from Argentina to Spurs in 1978, will gain a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to British Sport. London-based ex-model and human rights activist Bianca Jagger will also receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to human rights. The celebrated Flamenco guitarist Paco Peña will accept a LUKAS Fellowship for his contribution to music.

Winning Dance Acts include Salsa Performers of the Year Sami & Roxy, Tango Performers Kim & David, Brazilian Dance Performers Tropicalia and the London School of Samba. The winners will perform at the gala ceremony in a Latin dance spectacular choreographed by Strictly's Richard Marcel . 

Richard Marcel says: "Every year the quality of the LUKAS dance winners just gets better and better. All these were deserved wins from the UK's most talented and hard-working Latin artists...UK Latin Gold...and I'm looking forward to working with them to put on a great show at the gala ceremony." 

LUKAS founder and director Amaranta Wright says: "The LUKAS is an amazing event. Established international Latin stars share the stage with new musical sensations making their careers in the UK." 
David Bisbal is Spain's most successful pop artist of the last decade. He says: "In the United States they've been recognising the quality and popularity of Latin and Spanish music for years. With so many Latinos in Europe and the popularity of the culture here, it is natural that we should have our own awards of this side of the Atlantic."   

For more information and pictures contact Gerry Tissier [email protected]. 07806 689 836

Tens of thousands of London’s Latino residents and other Latin culture fans vote in seven award categories marking contributions to music, sport, dance, food, the arts, business and community. 1200 individuals and organisations were nominated this year for one of 56 LUKAS awards.