Westside Story Caribbean Connection
A choreographer's heritage brings a Caribbean flavor to West Side Story
When Patricia Lucía Delgado, (center in picture to the left) the associate choreographer for the new movie version of "West Side Story," was trying to get a group of Latino dancers playing members of the Sharks gang to move a certain way, she thought of the perfect imagery.
Delgado brought the Caribbean touch to the dancers playing Puerto Rican gang members. Contrary to the original 1961 movie — which Delgado said is a masterwork in its own right — she proudly pointed out they intentionally cast only Latino dancers to play the Sharks in this iteration of the film.
Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview - December 2021

The United States maintains strong linkages with neighboring Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) based on geographic proximity and diverse U.S. interests, including economic, political, and security concerns.
Curbing the flow of illicit drugs has been a long-standing component of relations, involving close cooperation with Mexico, Colombia, Central America, and the Caribbean. The United States is a major trading partner and source of foreign investment for many of the 33 countries in LAC, with free-trade agreements enhancing economic linkages with 11 countries..