sponsorship opportunity
Past sponsors
The Queer Afro Latin Dance Festival (QALDF) has grown into the only festival of its kind — uniting dance, music, and the arts in a celebration of Queer and Trans brilliance.
Inclusive. Transformative. Unforgettable.
Partner With QALDF and Power the Future of Queer Arts & Culture.
QALDF is more than a festival; it’s a transformative cultural experience. What began as a groundbreaking Afro-Latin dance event has grown into the only festival dedicated to Queer and Trans artistry across dance, music, and the arts.
We proudly center, celebrate, and uplift Queer and Trans creatives — building a haven where all gender identities and sexualities are embraced and celebrated. In a world where barriers often overshadow the brilliance of queer expression, QALDF stands as a beacon of change.
Our mission is clear: to reshape the narrative of dance and arts culture by breaking free from the constraints of heteronormativity and tradition. We provide a safe, affirming, and inclusive environment where Queer and Trans people thrive, express themselves, and are celebrated for who they are.
Queer and Trans artists often face exclusion and invisibility in cultural spaces. QALDF changes that. By supporting us, you help dismantle these barriers — ensuring that hundreds of Queer, Trans, and non-binary dancers, musicians, comedians, filmmakers, and performers find their voice and power. Here, they engage in inclusive workshops, participate in vital conversations, and showcase their talents with pride.
We invite you to become a sponsor of the 7th Annual Queer Afro Latin Dance Festival (QALDF), June 2026 in San Jose, California. Your support matters — it has the power to inspire a lifetime of self-confidence, self-expression, and positive change for Queer and Trans individuals.
Our sponsorship levels start at $500 and go up to $15,000, offering you a chance to make a meaningful impact on the festival and the communities we serve. As a sponsor, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits — from brand visibility and recognition to the knowledge that you are fueling the future of Queer and Trans arts and culture.
The 7th Annual Queer Afro Latin Dance Festival will:
✔ Deliver Over 60 Hours of Programming — workshops, performances, socials, pool parties, and arts experiences.
✔ Spotlight Queer & Trans Performers Across Disciplines — from dance and drag to music, film, comedy, and visual arts.
✔ Facilitate Vital Conversations — panels and discussions covering topics like consent, safety, visibility, and the future of queer arts.
✔ Host the 4th Annual Queer Afro Latin Dance Competition — raising the bar for representation and excellence on the competition stage.
✔ Offer Dance Workshops by Over 50 Queer & Trans Instructors — featuring diverse genres such as Salsa, Bachata, Vogue, Hip Hop, Heels, Jazz, Reggaetón, and more.
✔ Create Spaces for Connection — from a fabulous Drag Brunch to queer meet & mingle / speed dating events, we make community as much a part of the festival as the art.
The Queer Afro Latin Dance Festival (QALDF) was born out of an urgent need to revolutionize the Afro Latin dance community, creating a space of true inclusivity and acceptance.
Why we exist
Born from a dance culture marked by heteronormativity and exclusion, QALDF arose as a powerful response for inclusivity and change.
For decades, Latin dance spaces have been dominated by rigid gender roles, heteronormative traditions, and a culture that too often silenced or erased Queer and Trans people. Partner roles were policed, language was sexist, homophobic, and transphobic, and those who didn’t conform were left on the margins. What should have been spaces of freedom and joy instead became places where many in our community felt unsafe, unseen, and unwelcome.
Against this backdrop, the founders of In Lak’ech Dance Academy — Angélica Medina & Jahaira Fajardo — envisioned something radically different. As the first Queer and Trans Salsa & Bachata dance company in the U.S., they saw firsthand both the barriers and the possibilities. They understood that dance could be more than performance — it could be a tool for healing, empowerment, and transformation when reclaimed by those historically excluded.
QALDF was born in 2018 as that act of reclamation. What began as a festival centering Queer and Trans Afro-Latin dancers quickly became a cultural movement. From the very first year, participants spoke of feeling seen for the first time, of experiencing the joy of dancing freely in their identities, and of building community that transcended the stage.
Today, QALDF continues to honor those Afro-Latin roots while expanding into a multi-arts celebration of Queer and Trans creativity — across dance, music, drag, film, comedy, and more. It is a space where old narratives are dismantled, new traditions are written, and Queer and Trans artistry thrives without apology.
Co-founders of In Lak'ech Dance Academy & Queer Afro Latin Dance Festival
Angélica Medina & Jahaira Fajardo
Watch Previous Festivals!
AS SEEN ON:
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Who is coming?
From its very first year, the Queer Afro Latin Dance Festival proved there was an urgent need for this kind of space. In 2018, more than 300 participants came together to celebrate Queer and Trans voices in Afro-Latin dance. By the second year, attendance had soared to 550+, a testament to the festival’s growing influence and appeal.
Even in the face of unprecedented challenges, QALDF’s third year boldly embraced a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing over 300 attendees from 7 countries — including Brazil, Dominican Republic, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Panama. This global reach showcased the festival’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity and resilience.
By its fourth year, nearly 700 passionate attendees gathered in person to celebrate the intersection of dance, culture, and identity. The fifth year marked a historic milestone — over 1,000 participants from across the U.S. and abroad, proving that QALDF is not just an event but a cultural movement.
As we move into our 7th year, our vision expands even further. QALDF is no longer just about Latin dance — it has grown into a multi-arts festival where dance, music, drag, film, comedy, and visual arts collide. We envision a future where thousands gather to celebrate Queer and Trans artistry across genres, creating a cultural home unlike any other.
Our audience reflects the richness of our community: Queer and Trans people of color, dancers, artists, allies, and culture-bearers from across the country and the world. They span generations — from spirited teens and young adults to seasoned artists in their 60s — each bringing their own energy, stories, and passion. Together, they form a tapestry of diversity that is the heartbeat of QALDF.
about the audience
"I’m sure this has been the case for many LGBTQ people, but growing up, I had to find a way to feel safe in the world around me; I never had a space presented to me that said, “you’re safe here.”
That is PRECISELY what you are doing for people and I am welled up with emotions just thinking about what a blessing that is to our community."
"I was moved and touched by the unique QALDF experience and what it stands for. Never in my life have I experienced a space that promotes such a safe environment for such a large variety of people."
"I can’t express how rare it is to see such a well-balanced event! I mean really, I have never been to an event where most if not ALL of the staff was super attentive and ON IT the WHOLE time.
Everyone seemed very committed to doing a great job. So hats off to all of your staff! "
"presenting a space that allows one to be their unabashed, authentic self is a GIFT that’s nothing short of life-changing. And opening the door for this space for people all over is where positive change happens; it is where the world is re-shaped to fit the needs of EVERYONE and not just the few. Albeit on a small scale, you are changing lives and you are changing the world one step at a time and I am endlessly grateful that our community has you."
next
This is what they say
When Queer and Trans people are given a Safe Space to be their Unapologetic Selves
Visibility across channels: Your logo featured on the QALDF website, programs, event signage, and in festival-wide marketing campaigns.
On-stage recognition: Sponsors acknowledged during showcases and special events throughout the weekend.
Digital reach: Exposure across our social media platforms and livestreams, extending your reach to a global audience.
Direct interaction: Connect with hundreds of attendees who are eager to engage with brands that reflect their values. Opportunities include giveaways, interactive booths, and product activations.
Sponsoring QALDF is more than brand visibility — it’s aligning with a movement that is reshaping arts and culture through Queer and Trans brilliance.
Why Sponsor
Be part of change: Show your commitment to inclusivity, equity, and cultural transformation by supporting the only festival dedicated to Queer and Trans artistry across dance, music, and the arts.
Goodwill & trust: Attendees see your brand not just as a sponsor, but as a partner in uplifting their community. That creates lasting loyalty and positive brand association.
Your sponsorship/donation is tax-deductible, our Fiscal Sponsor is QCC-The Center for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Art & Culture (Tax ID Number: 94-3227839).
$500 usd
- QALDF T-Shirt
- Logo placement on website, program, and social media recognition
- 1 Full Festival Passes & VIP seating
copper sponsors
$1,000 usd
- QALDF T-Shirt
- Logo placement on website, and social media recognition
- 2 Full Festival Passes & VIP seating
bronze sponsors
$5,000 usd
- QALDF Swag
- Logo placement on website, social media recognition
- 4 Full Festival Passes & VIP seating
- Booth available for marketing product/s for uo to 2 full day of the festival
silver sponsors
$10,000 usd
- QALDF Swag
- Logo placement on website, social media recognition
- Banner displayed throughout venue
- 6 Full Festival Passes & VIP seating
- Vendor booth available for marketing product/s for 3 full days of the festival
- 1 hotel room for three nights
- Attendees Data Collection
gold sponsors
$15,000 usd
- QALDF Swag
- Logo placement on website, social media recognition
- Display of your company banner throughout the venue
- 8 Full Festival Passes & VIP seating
- Vendor booth available for marketing product/s for 3 full days of the festival
- 2 hotel room for three nights
- Host one - 60 minutes Bachata/Salsa dance lesson led by In Lak'ech Dance Academy for your staff and/or group private lesson
- Attendees data collection
platinum sponsors
QALDF t-shirt
Logo placement on website, program, and social media recognition
festival passes + VIP
festival booth
hotel room (3 nights)
one- 60 minutes Bachata/Salsa dance lesson
Attendees data collection
COMPARE SPONSPORSHIP PERKS
2 x
15,000 usd
Platinum
6 + VIP
10,000 usd
Gold
4 + VIP
5000 usd
Silver
2 + VIP
1000 usd
Bronze
1 + VIP
500 usd
Copper
8 + VIP
2 Days
3 Days
3 Days
15,000 usd
✔ QALDF T-SHIRT
✔ LOGO PLACEMENT ON WEBSITE, PROGRAM, AND SOCIAL MEDIA RECOGNITION
✔ 8 FESTIVAL PASSES + VIP
✔ LOGO PLACEMENT ON full PAGE ON PROGRAM
✔ FESTIVAL BOOTH
✔ 2 hotel room (3 nights)
✔ 1 60-min bachata/ salsa
dance lesson
✔ ATTENDEES DATA COLLECTION
& SURVEYS
Platinum
10,000 usd
✔ QALDF T-SHIRT
✔ LOGO PLACEMENT ON WEBSITE, PROGRAM, AND SOCIAL MEDIA RECOGNITION
✔ 6 FESTIVAL PASSES + VIP
✔ LOGO PLACEMENT ON half PAGE ON PROGRAM
✔ FESTIVAL BOOTH
✔ 1 hotel room (3 nights)
Gold
✔ QALDF T-SHIRT
✔ Logo placement on website, program, and social media recognition
✔ 4 festival passes + VIP
✔ logo placement quarter page on program
✔ FESTIVAL BOOTH
5000 usd
Silver
✔ QALDF T-SHIRT
✔ Logo placement on website, program, and social media recognition
✔ 2 festival passes + VIP
1000 usd
Bronze
✔ QALDF t-shirt
✔ Logo placement on website, program, and social media recognition
✔ festival pass + VIP
500 usd
Copper
compare sponsorship perks
platinum | 15,000 usd
gold | 10,000 usd
silver | 5000 usd
bronze | 1000 usd
copper | 500 usd
Which Sponsorship Plan are you interested in?
(Mark it with an "X")
We are so thankful for your support. please fill out this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible with payment instructions.
Sponsorship Form
questions? email us at: qaldf.sponsorships@gmail.com