The thick, brick walkways of Centanni Park in East Cambridge will soon pulse with the rhythms of samba and other Brazilian music styles at a free Samba and Latin Dance Party hosted by the Multicultural Arts Center on Friday, Aug. 7.

The event, starting at 6 p.m., aims to bring community members and music lovers together for twists and twirls under the night sky.

Husband and wife Brazilian musical duo singer Anna Borges and pianist Bill Ward of Receita de Samba will perform alongside drummer Rafael Barata and bassist Fernando Huergo to get the crowd up and moving. Ward estimates they’ve performed this concert five or six times over the years, always to a lively crowd.

“We’re gonna be playing Brazilian samba and bossa nova and we’re playing a lot of classic Brazilian music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s,” Ward said.

Accessibility is at the core of the mission here. Having performances for free in public spaces breaks down barriers to cultural access.

“Someone can encounter a performance simply by walking through the park, bringing their family or spending time with neighbors. In those moments, art becomes part of everyday life rather than something reserved for those who can afford a ticket or know where to look,” said Najee Brown, artistic director of the Multicultural Arts Center. “That’s how we cultivate curiosity, inspire future artists and strengthen the social fabric of our community.”

The dance party is part of the Multicultural Arts Center’s Summer Series, a schedule of four free outdoor performances at Centanni Park in Cambridge and celebrating diverse cultural and artistic groups.

“Every artist carries a different history, tradition and perspective,” said Brown. “Cultural representation doesn’t simply entertain; it builds empathy, challenges assumptions and creates opportunities for authentic connection across communities.”

The Multicultural Arts Center’s Summer Series included a Pride celebration and a Haitian and Ghanaian Afrobeats concert in connection with the FIFA World Cup games. The final event in the series will be The Summer Throwdown, a party and dance competition, on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m.

Borges, Ward and Brown say they hope the evening spreads joy and connects community members, whether they’re longtime dancers or new to Latin music styles.

“Music and dance have a unique ability to dissolve barriers between strangers, creating moments of belonging that words often cannot,” said Brown. “My hope is that people leave not only having had a wonderful evening, but with a deeper appreciation for the traditions being shared and a renewed sense of connection to one another.”

ON THE WEB

Learn more at multiculturalartscenter.org/summer-series-samba