About Us

Latino Arts LA Board Members

Michael Hudson-Medina, Founder and Executive Director

Vanessa Acuna

Enrique Gaspar

Jose Leiva

Allegra Padilla

Juan Rodriguez

About Michael-Hudson-MedinaMichael Hudson-Medina is the founder of Latino Arts LA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality after-school arts education in Los Angeles. Starting with only five IMPACTO students in September 2009, Latino Arts LA has now provided over thirty IMPACTO students with music lessons, as well as musical field trips to the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall. The cultural connections learned by all these students, whether they continue with music or not, will last them a lifetime and help them on their academic path of achievement.

Born in Lynwood, Michael grew up in the Greater Los Angeles area. His talent and passion for the arts were expressed at an early age and he began after-school music and dance lessons with private teachers from eleven years of age through to high school. Having to choose between a future career in music or in dance, Michael decided on dance and was honored with full scholarships to the most
prestigious dance schools in the nation; among them were New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre.

Upon graduation of Mater Dei High School in 1979, Michael moved to New York City and was offered a position with The Joffrey II Dancers, the junior company of The Joffrey Ballet. After touring all 50 states, Germany, Bermuda, and Hong Kong over a period of 3 years, Michael was offered a year’s guest contract with a dance company in Germany. The 1 year extended to 10, with 8 of them as a member of the famous Berlin Ballet at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. There Michael was privileged to work alongside the world’s greatest dancers, singers, choreographers, and conductors.

After completing a long and successful dance career, Michael took a two year sabbatical in the Netherlands, studying Dutch language and culture before his return to Los Angeles. Once back home, Michael set the goal of attaining a college degree. He graduated cum laude in May 2000 from Chapman University with a BA in Arts Administration, the first ever awarded by the school. For the next nine years, Michael has worked with major arts organizations such as the Los Angeles Opera, KCET, and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes.

Now as the next chapter of his life unfolds with the growth of Latino Arts LA, Michael’s goals are to share his wealth of knowledge and expertise in the arts

with the many children who deserve an opportunity to develop their own talents and artistic expression.