Mafalda Silva Rego is a Portuguese educator, dance teacher trainer, and active promoter of folk traditions, whose life has been closely intertwined with culture and dance from a young age. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and for over 25 years has taught children, teenagers, and adults, using movement as a means of cultural expression.
For more than four decades, Mafalda has been a dedicated member of the Grupo Etnográfico de Areosa, one of the most renowned ethnographic groups in Viana do Castelo. There, she volunteers as a dancer, teacher, international project coordinator, and communications officer. Her longstanding involvement reflects a deep commitment to cultural continuity and youth engagement in heritage.
Since 2023, Mafalda has served as the director of the International Folklore Festival “Alto Minho”, a CIOFF- and FIDAF-certified event with a 27-year tradition in the city of Viana do Castelo. She also coordinates the “Festa da Dança”, a balfolk festival that connects communities through European folk dance.
As highlighted in an article by Milénio Stadium, Mafalda believes that “respecting the past is essential to ensuring a sustainable cultural future.” Her work reflects not only professional dedication, but also a personal mission – to build meaningful bridges between tradition and contemporary life, between dance and the individual.
