Founded in 1978, World Arts West (WAW) is a regional presenting and arts services organization that supports Northern California artists and dance companies that sustain the world’s diverse dance and music traditions.

To date, WAW’s 41 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festivals and other programs have provided public access to more than 100 traditional dance forms and paid performance opportunities to over 450 traditional dance companies and soloists. Our service programs have supported the financial development of Northern California’s traditional dance communities and have built one of the largest multiracial dance networks in the U.S.