In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with dancer, teacher, and cultural organizer Isha Ferraz, the powerhouse behind the Ojai World Dance Festival, now in its second joyful year. Happening Saturday, May 3 at Libbey Bowl — and spilling out into Libbey Park with free public events — the festival brings together world-class dancers and musicians from across the region to celebrate rhythm, movement, and connection.

Isha shares the powerful personal story behind the festival’s creation, from her upbringing in a Brazilian-Puerto Rican household where music and dance were woven into daily life, to how her Hamza Dance Studio became a refuge during the covid lockdown. What started as a sanctuary for her community has blossomed into a festival that brings Ojai together through joy, movement, and global culture.

Come for the music, stay for the inspiration — this episode will have you tapping your toes and believing in the power of dance to heal and connect.

We also talk about dance as a fountain of youth, community, and as a way to connect different cultures. We did not talk about Edward Libbey's glassmaking inventions, Kern River rainbow trout subspecies or the Fall of Rome.

Check out more about the Festival and to purchase tickets at ...

https://www.danceojai.org/ojaidancefestival