09/30/2026
Rest in peace Roberto Paolo Riggio
Roberto was a leader in the world music community in Austin, a mentor to me, and a brother to all.
I met Roberto in the 1990s, a few years before Atash was formed. Around 2003 he offered me my first opportunity to choreograph a dance, a Persian/Indian fusion, to a song performed by Atash.
Roberto had a knack for seeing artistic potential in people and gently nurturing it by providing them a space to practice their art. Little did I know that I would continue to make art for the next 2 decades with the support of an artistic community that had been cultivated by Roberto himself.
In recent years, Roberto continued to encourage me to explore other aspects of artistry like singing, and just a few weeks ago we were speaking of projects we were going to do together.
Everyone I speak to has the same story...everyone was planning to collaborate with Roberto on their next project. May we hold you in our hearts as we continue to make art in the community you helped create for us. Thank you for this legacy, Roberto. ❤️
