Baila Studios is a Carnival Arts organisation led by Selva Romero-Toledo, running dance workshops in the local community and at festivals around the country since 2007.
Originally from Chile, Selva moved to Scotland as a child and studied social anthropology at university. She then travelled all over Latin America researching different music and dance styles and found a love for dance while in Brazil, where she stayed and trained in Samba no pé.
On her return she decided to teach and perform and has choreographed groups for events such as Stroud Carnival, at various schools throughout Gloucestershire and for processions and local carnivals.
She has taught merengue, salsa, samba reggae and samba no pé and currently teaches privately and runs workshops at various festivals throughout the county. She is passionate about carnival and processions – highlights of her career include parading in Salvador Carnival, dancing with the London School of Samba at Notting Hill Carnival and at the Lord Mayor’s Show and Thames Festival in London.