World-Class Latin Culture & Global Roots
Peruvian Parade Paterson Desfile Peruana Shows Peruvian Pride
The biggest celebration of Peruvian heritage in the USA has a Gala, Flag Raising, Parade, and Festival.
The celebration marches through Passaic and Clifton to the festival on Peru Square in Paterson, New Jersey. More…
Joyce Theater is NYC's Biggest Little Dance Theater
Joyce Ballet Festival curated by Misty Copeland, Limón Dance Company, Sergio Bernal Dance Company
Shakira in NYC: Concerts with Lebanese Colombian Heritage
Barclays Center, UBS Arena
NYC Broadway Week: Your Guide to 2-For-1 Broadway Tickets
NYC’s Late Summer and Late Winter Broadway promotion
Latin Comedy at Broadway Comedy Club
Patricia Peña, El Último Chiste: Hombres vs Mujeres, Rogelio Ramos, El Último Chiste: Batalla de Comediantes
Queens Museum Latin Art and Community
About Us: The American Imaginary, Ecuadorian Spring Recital, Sonia Boyce
IFC Center: Greenwich Village Art House Cinema Guide
Barrio Triste, Lost Chapters
Festival Independencia Orgullo Colombiano is NYC's Colombian Independence Festival
Live music, food, and artisanal crafts for the family
NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2026: Dates, Prices and How to Book
Prix-fixe lunches and dinners
Spain is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Champion
The expanded format brought many countries into the most beautiful game
Explore the Boroughs
Manhattan | The Bronx | Brooklyn | Queens | Staten Island | New Jersey
¿What is Latin?
LATIN CULTURE
Latin means many things to many people, but our definition is the mix of Indigenous, European, African, and Asian cultures in the Americas ~ leaning into a Caribbean perspective.
The First Nations of the Americas are Indigenous Peoples who built advanced civilizations including: Mississippian (Cahokia), Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi), Maya, Aztec, Inca, and more. Indigenous culture is the unifying foundation of our concept of Latin.
Then, to quote salsa and Latin jazz legend Eddie Palmieri, “The Spaniard brought the African. The African put everyone to dance. In the States, they took away the drum, and we got the blues.”
The blues is the root of gospel, jazz, and R&B. Those are the roots of country, rock, pop, reggae, soul, Latin soul, funk, salsa, disco, house, rap, and trap; basically the popular music and dances of the U.S. and parts of the Caribbean.
In the Americas, either Indigenous or African culture now dominates. Regions that are more Indigenous, remember and respect our African heritage too.
The sum of these traditions influenced the world. Even K-Pop is based on R&B and rap. Many traditions come back and get remixed.
Caribbean
Antiguan and Barbudan, Bahamian, Barbadian, Cuban, Dominican, Garifuna, Grenadian, Haitian, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Trinidadian, Vincentian
North American
African American, Belizean, Costa Rican, French Canadian, Guatemalan, Honduran, Mexican, Nicaraguan, Panamanian, Salvadoran
South American
GLOBAL ROOTS
European
The horror of the Colonial Era is over, yet it still devils us. On the other hand, European thinkers formed the Enlightenment ~ from Islamic, Native American, and Chinese ideas. Even in Europe, there is no pure anything. We are all mixed.
West African
Africa is Mother, the mother of all humanity. A lot of Latin culture has African origins, and so does American culture where the Jazz Age defines us. Much of today’s global youth culture has African origins through New York.
Beninese, Bissau-Guinean, Gambian, Ghanian, Ivorian, Guinean, Liberian, Malian, Nigerian, Senegalese, Sierra Leonean, Togolese, Yoruba
Central African
East African
Southern African
Asian
Arab traditions, like the Puerto Rican pandereta, came to the Americas through Africa. After abolition, some Asian communities came as indentured workers. Recent migrations also contributed to regional Latin cultures.
Latin is various blends of all of the above, and New York City is our capital. Latin culture brings people together, and that is what makes New York The Greatest Show on Earth. ¡WEPA!
E-le-le, le-le-le… Ay! San Miguel