Freefall kicks off Aug 31 with Zaltandi World Dance Festival, featuring Beleza

The Charlottesville Salsa Club, The Dance Spot and Zabor Dance Project present the second annual Zaltandi World Dance Festival, a two-day all-inclusive event highlighting the dances of Charlottesville’s many cultures, on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1.

“[Zaltandi] aims to showcase the beauty of different cultures and strengthen our community ties through dance,” says Carolyn Nuscher, one of the event organizers.

The program on Saturday, August 31 is part of the 5th annual FreeFall Music & Art Festival. Showcases in a variety of genres begin at 2:30pm on the IX Art Park’s outdoor piazza. UVA Salsa Club presents a showcase and workshop at 5:45pm.

Beleza headlines the event with Brazilian jazz fusion performance at 7:00pm. United by musical interests that include samba, funk, soul, blues, bossa nova, jazz and Spanish flamenco, Humberto Oliveira Sales and Madeline Holly Sales blend the melodic, rhythmic and harmonic riches from North and South America.

Zaltandi dance performances include tango and salsa by Zabor Dance Project, swing and Peabody by Blue Light Ballroom, bellydance by Tara Tribal Dance, semba and kizomba by DS Kiz, Scottish dance by Sarah & Kelsie, majorette and hip-hop by Banks Collage Elite Empire, ladies’ Latin hip-hop by Dudette Fire, Bollywood by Kumud Vanderveer and many more.

“Zaltandi’s mission is to celebrate diversity and strengthen community by bringing together people of different cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds to share world [and] life perspectives through dance,” Nuscher says.

Workshops in various dance styles by local artists will take place on Sunday, September 1. Both days are FREE and open to the public.