The LUKAS 2011 are now closed. Below are the list of winners. I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate the winners, runners up (aswell as the very highly voted third placers) and finalists, and thank everyone who participated. The categories, and indeed the winners, represented a fantastic range of cultures spanning the whole Latin American continent and Hispanic world, and a great mix of Latinos and non-Latinos passionate about Latino culture.

We were humbled by the amount of people who embraced the LUKAS, proving to us the necessity of these awards to recognise the hard work and creativity of those dedicated to creating and diffusing Latin arts and culture. It was a viral pohenomenon, we got 120,000 votes, all through word of mouth, no marketing budget at all.  Thanks to all of you, we have a fantastic base for building up a long-lasting institution, which will grow in prestige and size year on year. We feel so proud of those people who put the hard work into their campaigns, and hope that their efforts have paid off, and that holding an award helps them in ther projects, whether its fundraising or publicity. 

We are also relieved that opting for the popular vote really paid off and the winners and runners up are deserving of their prizes. We have to apologise to those people who found out about the awards too late and were unable to generate votes. Please look out for the launch of this years awards via our newsletter to give yourselves the best chance. We are already looking forward to the LUKAS 2012! You'll be able to submit your nominees from Auhgust so watch this space!

WINNERS OF THE LUKAS AWARDS 2011 FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

Alternative Act of the Year:  

WINNER - WARA  

RU - Lokandes

Brazilian Act of the Year:  

WINNER - Zeu Azevedo and Forrodaki

RU - Caratinga

Brazilian Dance Performers of the Year:

WINNER - Tropicalia  

RU - Douglas Gomes & Gladys Cavalcante

Brazilian Dance School of the Year:

WINNER - Dancemyway

RU - London School of Samba

Brazilian Dance Teacher of the Year:

WINNER - Baris Yazar

RU - Monika Molnar

Brazilian DJ of the Year:

WINNER - DJ Limao

RU - DJ Fabricio D.Vyzor

Crossover DJ of the Year:

WINNER Saul Maya

RU Kevin "Gato"

Festival of the Year:

WINNER Mambo City 5

RU Salsa Splash

Flamenco School of the Year:

WINNER Illusion Flamenca

RU Escuela de Baile

Folkoric Act of the Year:

WINNER - Raices Tungurahua

RU - The London Lucumi Choir

International Music Event of the Year:

WINNER - AfroCubism at the Royal Albert Hall

RU - Calle 13 at the Hackney Empire

Milonga of the Year:

WINNER - Tango South London

RU - Corrientes

Music Video of the Year:

WINNER - Los Van Van & the Key2Cuba Dancers

RU - Me Mantengo, RU D-KeL - Crazy

Musician of the Year:

WINNER - Maria Camahort

RU - Roberto Pla

Nightclub of the Year:

WINNER - La Pollera Colora.

RU - El Peñol

Party of the Year:

WINNER - Salsa Fusion

RU - El Grande

Personality of the Year:

WINNER - Joao Castelo-Branco

RU - Mauricio Reyes

Promotion company of the year:

WINNER - Movimientos.

RU - Cubacheche

Salsa Act of the Year:

WINNER Salsaelogy.

RU Mambo con Rumbo

Salsa Performers of the Year:

WINNER - Miguel and Mayana

RU - Osbanis and Anneta

Salsa DJ of the Year:

WINNER - Mauricio Reyes.

RU - Gillian 'Salsa Fix'

Salsa School of the Year:

WINNER - M&M Salsa & Mambo School.

RU - Salsatricity

Salsa Teacher of the Year:

WINNER - Miguel & Mayana

RU - Nikola Medic

Tango Performance of the Year:

WINNER - Maria Maragaki & Guillermo Torrens.

RU - Flavia y Vincent

Tango Teacher of the Year:

WINNER - Maria Maragaki and Guillermo Torrens.

RU - Pablo Alonso

Theatre Production of the Year:

WINNER - Danza Contemporanea de Cuba.

RU - Tap Olé

Urban Act of the Year:

WINNER Sangre Latina

RU - Ando & Mello

Visual Artist of the Year:

WINNER - Julio Etchart

RU - Rui Paes

Vocalist of the Year:

WINNER - George Peguero

RU - Gabriela di Laccio

Zumba Teacher of the Year:

WINNER Aliana Cassimiro Bruce

RU Diego Avila

WINNERS OF THE LUKAS AWARDS 2011 FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY

 Arts Institution of the Year

 WINNER - Bolivar Hall

RU - Discovering Latin America

Community Service of the Year:

WINNER - Mexicanos en Londres,

RU - Latin American Women's Rights Service

Community Worker of the Year:

WINNER - Marlene Cabezas

RU  - Ancizar Morales

Cultural or Educational Resource of the Year:

WINNER - Mexicolore

RU - European Bookshop

Human Rights Campaigner of the Year:

WINNER - Dan Slee

RU - Einstein Durango

Human Rights Organization of the Year:

WINNER - Children of the Andes

RU - Brigadas de Paz

Spanish School or Nursery of the Year:

WINNER - Escuela Gabriel Garcia Marquez

RU - ESFORAL - Escuela Latinoamericana en Londres

WINNERS OF THE LUKAS AWARDS 2011 FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SERVICES INDUSTRY

Argentine Restaurant of the Year:

WINNER - Buen Ayre

RU - La Garufa

Brazilian Restaurant of the Year:

WINNER - Cabana

RU - Made in Brasil

Andean Region Restaurant of the Year:

WINNER - Tito's Peruvian Restaurant

RU - Rincón Quiteño

Latin Restaurant Outside London:

WINNER - River Plate (Leeds)

 RU - Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill (Leeds),

Mexican Restaurant of the Year:

WINNER - Mestizo

RU - Tortilla

Print Media of the Year:

WINNER - El Iberico

RU - Express news

Web Media of the Year:

WINNER - www.ventanalatina.co.uk

RU - Latino Music UK

Sports Organisation of the Year:

WINNER - campeonato sudamericano virgen de cotoca yapacani

RU - Los Siempre Secos FC

Dance Holiday of the Year -

WINNER - Key2Cuba

RU - Club Dance Holidays

Highest 3rd places:

Brazilian Social Dance - Dance School of the Year

Mariana Pinho - Brazilian Dance Teacher

Baris Yazar - Brazilian Dancer Performer

Samba E Etc - Brazilian Dance School

Paraiso School of Samba - Brazilian Dance schools

"I’d like to wish all the finalists in the LUKAS Awards the very best of luck. No one deserves recognition more than those, whether originating from Latin America or not, who have dedicated years of creativity and hard work to diffusing our wonderful arts and cultures, our perspectives and energy to British society. The LUKAS Awards are a great way to celebrate this collective effort and I am looking forward to the ceremony, which will no doubt become a permanent attraction in the annual London diary. The opportunity to celebrate Latin American achievement in the UK resonates for me personally. I will always be grateful for the acceptance and encouragement I received from the people of London, the world’s greatest city for multiculturalism and art, which helped me grow as an artist."

Carlos Acosta, Principal Dancer of the Royal Ballet

"London is a richer metropolis as a result of the cultural, social and economic contributions of Latinos here and the LUKAS Awards are a great platform to celebrate the contribution of Britain’s Latin American Spanish and Portugues communities. I would encourage everyone to vote for their favourite acts.”

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London