Dreaming in Latin

They have roots in countries as diverse as Cuba, Brazil and Ecuador, but are united by their passion for all things Latino. The Scottsdale Latin Group is led to culture by Ecuadoran dynamo Katherine Gomez. The group – about 100 strong – celebrated their fourth anniversary on April 16 at Frank and Lupe’s restaurant in Scottsdale. Katalina, as she’s fondly known, organizes a monthly roster of art and cultural events that appeal to the members’ Latin American aesthetics. A recent line-up included an Italian film presented by the Sirio Calogero (Italian faculty) at Scottsdale Community College, attending en mass a concert by Latin jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri at the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts, and a presentation by French photographer Michel Sarda on the life of Antonio Vivaldi, who composed the venerable Four Seasons. “We want to make an impact on the cultural scene in the Valley,” Katalina says. “We celebrate, educate, preserve and pass on the Latino culture.” To learn more about the Latin Group, e-mail her at katherinesg3@yahoo.com.