Workshop Programme

EFC Workshop Programme

We work in communities across Edinburgh throughout the year on a workshop programme to introduce carnival arts to those who may not otherwise have access. Find out more about our workshop leaders below.

Albi Mendoza

Albi runs youth dance group ‘Latin Dance Inclusive’ which brings together disabled children and young people and their parents to create a Latin dance party/performance for this year’s carnival.

Albi is from Bolivia, in the heart of South America. In her culture, dancing is an essential part of life, bringing great joy to her.

Emanual Carlos

Emanual is delivering dance workshops with children and young people at Passion for Fusion Youth Project and with the Gambian Community in Edinburgh.

A passionate dancer, writer, and activist advocating for diversity and equality, seeking to break into modelling and dancing scene to inspire change through art.

LauraTiguerona

Laura is delivering a number of workshops for us with her youth group at James Gillespie High School, the youth group ‘Carnival Creative’ in Leith and her junior and senior youth Salsa groups.

She is a fully qualified dance instructor and educator with over two decades of choreography, teaching, and teacher training experience. Laura will also be heading up the Dominican and wider community carnival group in Edinburgh this year.

Priya Shrikumar

Priya Shrikumar the Artistic Director and choreographer of Dance Ihayami a Scottish Indian dance company based in Edinburgh working across Scotland, the UK and Internationally. Along with dance company, and the dance school, Ihayami has an active youth group who Priya is working with on a new performance/choreography for Edinburgh Festival Carnival 2025.

Rocio Banyuls Bertomeu

Rocio is a music teacher at Edinburgh College, and she is also the group leader for a youth street band ‘Street Mash’ comprising of brass player and percussionists. Rocio Combines music and education, specializing in street music, using its power to foster community bonds through creativity and passion.

Sija Wang

Sijia Wang is an Edinburgh-based Chinese community artist,
organiser and dance workshop leader whose work with Edinburgh Festival Carnival
has helped bring the richness, elegance and visibility of Chinese cultural
performance into the heart of the city. Working closely with Edinburgh’s
Chinese community, Sijia supports the development of participatory dance,
movement and performance work that connects community members across
generations, from young people and families to adult performers and cultural volunteers.

Within Edinburgh Festival Carnival, Sijia’s practice sits at
the meeting point of artistic leadership, community organising and cultural
representation. Her work helps ensure that Chinese arts are not presented as a
static cultural display, but as a living, evolving and collectively owned
practice.

Sijia brings care, precision and cultural knowledge to
large-scale public performance, supporting participants to feel confident,
prepared and proud. Her contribution strengthens EFC’s role as a civic platform
where Edinburgh’s communities can be seen, heard and celebrated.