It’s fiesta time at the Horniman Museum and Gardens this summer! On Monday the museum hosted a Latin dance workshop as part of their Fiesta Latina Summer Season.
Latin music pulsed from the bandstand, inviting both children and adults alike to join on the dance floor. The free “Samba Con Salsa” sessions were held at the bandstand in the gardens at 2 pm and 3:15 pm. The bandstand offers a stunning view of the London skyline.
“Let’s go to the Amazon!” said dance instructor Roberto Silva. First he had his pupils warm up by shaking their hips. “Five, six, seven, eight…” Silva shouted, “Time to Samba!” After mastering (or at least attempting) the faster and faster steps of the Samba, dancers learned basic steps of the Salsa. Sampling music from Rio, Havana and Colombia, the 45 minute dance session was a journey through Latin America.
Roberto Silva teaches participants of the “Samba Con Salsa” dance class how to Samba on Monday afternoon. The class was held at the bandstand in the Horniman Gardens.
Silva of Mandacru Dance Theatre was the enthusiastic teacher for the two sessions of dance classes. The dance company performed at the Horniman for the Amazon Adventure exhibit launch and they have worked extensively with the museum. Silva has been teaching workshops at the Horniman for eight years. He also leads the yoga sessions on Tuesday nights at the museum. “I started yoga originally to help with my dancing,” he said. Originating from Brazil, he said “I am quite familiar with the museum’s summer theme.”
The Fiesta Latina celebration at the museum runs until 1 September. PR officer Stephanie Hay said that this theme was chosen to coincide with the museum’s family exhibition Amazon Adventure: Vicious Fishes & Other Riches. This popular exhibit opened in February and will be on until 24 November.
“There are so many events happening this summer,” said Hay. The extensive lineup includes concerts, cinema viewings, workshops and storytellings. “The joy of it all is that there are events for adults, for children and for families. There is something for everyone,” Hay said.
Hay said the event she was most looking forward to this summer is the Latin Late on 16 August. For £3 you can enjoy the museum after hours while having some drinks and listening to Latin music with friends. This 18+ event will feature a Colombian circus, Mexican storytelling, Argentinean tango workshops and demonstrations, Chilean film screenings, Latin music, talks and more.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens are located at 100 London Road, London, SE23 3PQ. Entrance is free! The museum is open daily from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. The gardens open at 7:15 am Monday-Saturday and 8 am on Sunday and close at sunset daily.
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The Horniman Museum is another jewel in SE (“spectacularly embellished”) London - it’s a vibrant and ever evolving place. I just love it!