Welcome
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the official Latino Cultural Project's web-site, a project that was born on November 12, 1985 on the occasion of the Great October Revolution in the city of Nitra in the Slovak Republic with the participation of Miguel Méndez Dance Company and his dance partner Zadi, both nationals of Nicaragua, with a piece of dance Nicaragua Folklore el "Mate Amargo". At that time, Miguel Méndez founded his first Latin Dance Group: compounds with Sabor Latino students throughout Latin America and later with the participation of some European girls.
In November 1989, with the political changes in Czechoslovakia caused by the Velvet Revolution, many members of Sabor Latino emigrated to other countries and the group officially disbanded in February 1990. Miguel Méndez refused to give up and with the support of his fellow college from the Economics University Lenka Klimecká, he founded the first project under the name: Pump at the Jam, which was then on March 24th, 1990, officially changed to: Latino Flash in the Club's facilities UNIC, located at the student's dormitory area of Mlynská Dolina in Bratislava city.
The basic idea of this new project, the only one of its kind throughout the Czechoslovak Federation, was to leave a cultural mark on the Czech and Slovak youth with the primary objective of popularizing Latinamerican dances. In a short period of time, Latino Flash became a living Latino culture propaganda vehicle around the region.
After the great success and welcome by the European public to Latino Flash, Miguel Méndez decided to go further and created the LATINO CULTURE PROJECT on March the 9th, 1995, a cultural organization that would give more coverage to the population in all categories, which was open to all ages, from children to seniors. Its primary objective is to further popularize the Latin culture in Slovakia and Europe and for this purpose it aims to promoting key activities, such as,: Fiesta Latina de Miguel Méndez (19 April 19, 1995) and the Dance Academy of Miguel Méndez (1st of September 1998), both currently active today.
We are pleased that this objective has been achieved at its maximum as evidenced by the many Latino groups currently active, similar to Latino Flash most of of them emerged from the Academia de Danza de Miguel Méndez and also mostly led by former members of Latino Flash dancers. We can also mention the existence of Latin dance schools, like bars and restaurants Latinos across the Slovak Republic.
Finally we take pride in continuing our educational and representative work; our project is twofold, first, promoting the Latino culture all over Europe and the second, promoting Slovakia (birthplace of the project) to the world. In the last years, various dance groups led by Latino Culture Project have proudly represented Slovakia in all over three continents around the world.
Long live to the Latin-American Culture around the world!
Long live Slovakia!
Miguel Mendez
LCPLATINO