Balamondo, let the party begin. Casadei: "Liscio lives on."

Smooth music meets modernity and new rhythms, but without ever forgetting the tradition that has made it famous in Italy and around the world. From September 1st to 4th, the Balamondo World Music Festival returns to Rimini, led as always by the Mirko Casadei Folk Orchestra. Four events will bring big names from the past and young artists to the stage in Piazza Cavour (starting 9:30 pm), connecting past and present. Accompanied by Raoul Casadei's son, Nomadi will take the stage on Monday the 1st, and Paolo Jannacci the following day. Then, there will be time for words with the panel "Smooth music and the distant worlds" on the 3rd at 7 pm at the Grand Hotel in Rimini, featuring Mirko Casadei, Mirco Mariani of Extraliscio, and journalist Pierfrancesco Pacoda. The grand finale will be on September 4th, live from X Factor, with Patagarri. "Every year I receive dozens of letters from residents and tourists complaining about the lack of venues dedicated to dance, especially dance halls," says Mayor Sadegholvaad. "I always reply that the enjoyment of dance has changed over time, moving from indoor to outdoor venues, and Balamondo is a prime example." Thus, starting Monday, Piazza Cavour will once again be an open-air dance hall, and every evening until September 4th, the stage will feature a concert by the Casadei Orchestra, followed by performances by special guests, and finally the grand finale, where the tradition born with Raoul will blend with pop music. In between these events, on the 3rd, the musical reading "Il liscio ei mondi lontanissimi" will take place, in which Casadei will converse with Mariani of Extraliscio, the duo that blends dance hall music with punk, and music critic Pacoda.

"Liscio dance is still alive," says Mirko Casadei, artistic director of Balamondo. "It's a music that defines identity, one that has never been dusty, one that transcends regional boundaries. When we travel with the orchestra to Sicily or Trentino, we see many people, especially young people, who want to dance it." Liscio dance and its tradition can transcend regional boundaries as well, becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the candidacy spearheaded by the Region. "Liscio dance is identity, history, and culture, and for this reason we will support the candidacy," emphasizes Regional Councilor Allegni. "A journey that began in 2023 must now be realized with a dossier that we will draft by the fall with administrators, dance schools, documentation centers, and of course Mirko Casadei." A journey that could conclude within three years, with the formal candidacy. "We could succeed in 2028," concludes the councilor. "This is a challenge, worthy of the resilience of Romagna."