Santa Barbara County is blessed with a diversity of vital nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the health, well-being, growth, civic leadership and compassion of our community.
Charitable giving and philanthropy are part of our identity, which is why Noozhawk is proud to support the nonprofit community through sponsoring local community organizations and events.
To showcase our support of the event, Malena, Noozhawk spoke with Alejandra Folguera, Executive Director of Nomad Tango to learn more about their event.
Nomad Tango
Question: What is the name and date of your event?
Answer: Malena – Saturday September 6th, 2025
Q: What is the mission, goal, and/or theme of this occasion?
A: We see tango as a fully developed dance language and aim to highlight its power to communicate stories and address contemporary social issues.
With our new, fully original show Malena, we are reaching out to the contemporary dance community and proposing a dialogue between these two rich movement languages.
Since 2021, Nomad Tango has been organizing high-quality, tango-inspired events in Santa Barbara — all thanks to your support. Each year:
Over 1,000 attendees have enjoyed live music concerts, classes, prácticas, lectures, shows, and more.
More than 500 people have attended our live music concerts.
Over 750 individuals have taken part in our free and low-cost community tango classes and prácticas, taught by world-class master teachers.
More than 400 participants have engaged in our culturally relevant educational outreach programs, including movie nights, visits to the Pecourt Special Tango Collection at UCSB Library, guest lectures, and broadcasted Zoom workshops.
Q: Have you held this event before?
A: We’ve organized several events in town, including two dance-for-stage productions like Malena. However, we’ve never performed at the Lobero — this will be our first time.
Q: Tell us some more details about your celebration?
A: A Unique Creative Collaboration. Two companies. Two choreographers. One ensemble of dancers.
United to present an original production that fuses modern dance and Argentine tango while confronting a shared social reality.
Malena: Freedom Beyond the Limits is a bold collaboration between Argentine tango and contemporary dance. A shared story told in two languages.
Fernanda Ghi Dance Company explores the roots of Argentine tango through the lens of other artistic disciplines and social themes. Led by choreographer and dancer Fernanda Ghi, the company works with a team of renowned dancers to build a space for innovation and creative collaboration—honoring tradition while pushing boundaries.
Selah Dance Collective, under the artistic direction of Meredith Ventura, is a contemporary dance company committed to creating original works, offering transformative educational experiences through performance, and supporting community dance projects and emerging artists through outreach, mentorship, and collaboration.
Presented by Nomad Tango, this production brings together exceptional artists with a shared mission: to expand the reach of the arts in Santa Barbara and beyond.
A Coproduction of Nomad Tango, Fernanda Ghi Dance, and Selah Dance Collective.
Q: How do people get involved with your event? (volunteer, attend, etc.) – If your event includes ticket sales, please note the price and include a link to purchase tickets.
A: Attend! Prices are from $27. We offer discounts to students and seniors.
Q: Is this a fundraising affair? If so, how will the funds raised help your organization?
A: The event is not a fundraiser. However, we rely on ticket sales to cover the cost of the theater rental and the salaries of the wonderful people who make it all happen.
Q: Who is sponsoring your event, and why is their support important?
A: This event was made possible thanks to the generous support of Nomad Tango, the Santa Barbara Foundation, the Towbes Foundation, the City of Goleta, Noozhawk, and private donors among others.
Our productions are complex, original, and often feature top-tier talent from outside the region — including international artists. We rely entirely on donations to fund our work, as we receive no government or cultural agency funding.
We also gratefully accept in-kind contributions, especially housing for artists and attendees traveling from other parts of California.
Q: Do you work with an Event Planner? If not, who are the key people who make it all happen?
A: No, we handle all planning in-house. Most of the planning, coordination, and execution has been carried out by co-producers Alejandra Folguera and Rodney Gustafson. Liliana Hensel is in charge of outreach and helps with planning and strategy as well. Due to our travel schedules, much of this work has been done remotely, as we are often out of town or out of the country.
We also receive valuable support from volunteers who help distribute promotional materials, DJ, host, and contribute their time and ideas to the project.
Q: Does your organization have any other upcoming events this year?
A: Malena on Sep 6 will be followed by a fundraisng party at a private residence on Sep 7. For that event we are brining one of the most popular tango bands for dancing.
Q: What are you planning as a post-event follow up?
A: We will have a short gathering in the Lobero Courtyard and a fundraiser at a private home the following day. These post-event gatherings serve two purposes: to celebrate our achievements and to connect artists. Our hope is that connecting the modern dance troupe with the tango community — dancers and musicians alike — will spark new ideas for collaboration and plant the seeds for more art in the future.
To learn more about Malena click here.
If you would like to apply for Noozhawk’s 50/50 Match Sponsorship Program for your upcoming nonprofit event please click HERE to view our sponsorship application. The deadline for consideration is 30-45 days prior to the event. You can also contact our sales team at sales@noozhawk.com.