Desert Journey School of Dance, Salt City Studio, and Shahravar present:

Summer Dance Festival: Passport to Dance

Come celebrate dance with great music, food, and entertainment at the Viridian!

Desert Journey School of Dance and Salt City Dance and Fitness Studio will host the third annual Utah Summer Dance Festival at the Viridian Event Center  (8030 S. 1825 W. West Jordan) on Saturday, August 20th, from 11:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This event is free and open to the public. Doors will open at noon. Show, food trucks, and vendors open at 11:30 PM.

Summer Dance Festival will take place at the beautiful Viridian Event Center and will feature some of Utah’s top professional belly dancers including Shahravar, Shah Sitara, Dragomi, Amina, as well as featured artists Aziz, who brought belly dance to Utah over thirty years ago, and dance and movement therapist Melissa Walker. Both Aziz and Walker will teach workshops the weekend of the Festival (see website for more info).

As the name of this year’s festival implies, we are working to make out show as international as possible, for this year and moving forward. All varieties of dance are welcome to perform in the show (see below for application information). Thus far, we have nearly two dozen nations represented, and featured artists will include Divya School of Dance, KUD Rastko, Grupo Folklorico Raices. Keep an eye on our website for a full listing of artists.

Live music will include Kairo By Night and Tabla Arabia. In addition to the many performances, this event will also feature mini classes and demos for kids and adults, an assortment of vendors including food trucks, dance and yoga wear, jewelry, and work by local artists.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT AND THE WORKSHOPS, VISIT: www.UtahSummerDanceFestival.com

Desert Journey School of Dance, under the direction of Fvorboda, is known for a high standard of dance instruction celebrating all forms of Middle Eastern dance and Fusion dance, providing a wide variety of classes teaching all about belly dancing movements, different styles, and the history of Middle Eastern dance.  Desert Journey dancers perform at festivals and functions throughout the west, including Fusion Fest in Idaho, the Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive, and Utah’s very own Springfest.  They are also the recipients of several awards, including People’s Choice three years in a row.

Shahravar has studied and performed Middle-Eastern dance styles since 1991. Her background includes Egyptian Cabaret, Turkish, American Tribal, Swords and veils. As an ACE certified group fitness instructor with a mind body certification, Shahravar is a sought after performer and Instructor who has taught workshops and performed in venues around the country. She and her husband have recently opened the Salt City Dance and Fitness Studio at 1321 East 3300 South. Salt City features Belly Dance, Yoga, Zumba, Hula, Pilates classes and much more, as well as a boutique filled with lots of dance and fitness goodies.

This event is made possible with the support of The Viridian Event Center, Utah Division of Arts & Museums, and SLUG Magazine.