Vitor Mendes www.afrobailar.com/vitormendes.html

About me:

I was born in Lisbon, Portugal to Cape Verdean parents in 1981, so I can speak not only Portuguese but my second mother language is Cape Verdean Creole. I lived in a poor but very happy community with my parents and my 2 older brothers and sister in a quarter of Lisbon called Bairro dos Húngaros, rough place to live but I had great moments at that time of my childhood. And that was also the time I gained a strong passion for dance and entertainment.

When I was 14, I became a member of 2 dance groups. One was called Morabeza, which in creole means happiness. I have danced with this group for 3 years African Contemporary Dance, Kuduro, Funana and Capoeira. Another one was called Muzenza Capoeira Group where I was learning Capoeira with Mestre Bailarino. In this group I have stayed for 7 years.

In age of 17 I started to work at Youth Project Association which was giving crime prevention advice for children in age 9 - 17. I was teaching them African Contemporary Dance, Kuduro, Funana, Coladera, Capoeira and Street Dance. When I was 19, I was choreographer in 2 dance groups of youngsters - Kuduro, Soukous fused with Contemporary Dance. Since I was 20 I was performing in varies cultural events such as African Events organized by the City Council of Oeiras and I was organizing local food and dance charity festivals.

I moved to London in 2002 and I stayed for long 8 years. Here I improved my english, met many interesting people and got unique opportunities to dance and show my love to music. For 1 year I was teaching children Capoeira and African Contemporary Dance in Youth Club at Harringey Council. After that I was doing dance animations for Magnito Entertainment in the clubs of central London, for example Cafe De Paris, Egg Club, Cross Club, Stork Room Club, Colosseum Club, El Grande, Guanabara Club and many more for 2 years.

From 2005 I was working for 1 year as administrator, dancer and promoter in LAK:UK Ltd, Entertainment Management Company (House, Transe, Hard Dance, Techno, Afro Free Style, Afro House, Capoeira). At the same year I debuted in Patti Boulaye's Sun Dance, dance musical at east London's Hackney Empire theatre.

From 2006 - 2007 I was teaching children Capoeira and African Contemporary Dance in Civic Center, Youth Club at Waltham Forest...
From 2008 I was assisting Kizomba Classes for MGL Dance. I was doing dance animations and organizing events. At the same year I became a director of an american fashion brand APB Clothing in UK, so along with it I was also organizing fashion shows, photoshoots etc...

In 2010 I moved from London to Prague, Czech Republic. I got my new family in Prague and fell in love with the city immediately. I have decided to stay and at the same year I organized Afro-Bailar, the 1st Multicultural Dance & Music Festival with afro-latino music which I organize for already 3 years now. But I didn't stay only with that, I co-organize parties and do dance animations and shows, for example in July 2011 Coupé-Décalé Show at Coupé-Décalé Explosion Party and Afro-Venezuelan and Kuduro Shows and Animations at Rumba Latina Budweis Open Air. At the same month I was also invited to Warsaw, Poland to Afro Explosion Dance Festival organized by Uanga, african dance school to do Kuduro-Décalé workshops and animations.

In October 2011 I did Kuduro Animation and Show at Karneval feat. Zumba Fitness Party in Prague and also at Rumba Latina Party vol.27 - Kuduro Edition in České Budějovice. In December 2011 I was invited to do another Kuduro Animation and Show at Rumba Latina Party - Merry Christmas in České Budějovice. In January I was doing Kuduro Workshop and Animation at Lednově žhavá Zumba Beach Party and at it's After Party in Prague.

From January 2012 I perform at Šivovo kolo života, dance-Audiovisual performance inspired by Indian culture and dances (Bollywood, Bhangra, Bharatanatyam, Kathak) at Theater ABC in Prague. www.sivovokolozivota.cz.

In March I performed at Cesky Lev Awards, In October 2011 I did Kuduro Animation and Show at Karneval feat. Zumba Fitness Party in Prague and also at Rumba Latina Party vol.27 - Kuduro Edition in České Budějovice. In December 2011 I was invited to do another Kuduro Animation and Show at Rumba Latina Party - Merry Christmas in České Budějovice. In January I was doing Kuduro Workshop and Animation at Lednově žhavá Zumba Beach Party and at it's After Party in Prague. I March I got back to České Budějovice for Kizomba Intensive Workshop and Rumba Latina Party - Afro-Bailar Edition and had a really great time.

From January to May 2012 I performed at Šivovo kolo života, dance-Audiovisual performance inspired by Indian culture and dances (Bollywood, Bhangra, Bharatanatyam, Kathak) at Theatre ABC in Prague www.sivovokolozivota.cz and at DOKOLA : A Prague Adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler's "La Ronde" at Theatre Malé Vinohradské Divadlo. From April I started Afro-Fitness Classes every Wednesday at Studio Focus. You can also attend my Summer Private Classes of Kuduro-Decale, Kizomba and Body & Mind Therapy. Please, check for more info on my Website www.afrobailar.com/vitormendes.html.