2018 Dance Parade and Festival
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Parade Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
From 21st Street and Broadway heading south onto University Place and turning east on 8th Street to Tompkins Square Park
Over 10,000 Dancers, DJs And Live Bands Will Light Up The City Under The 2018 Theme: The Cabaret Of Life!
Official Press Release soon to come
Also, visit New Yorkled’s special photo collection page of the Dance Parades we’ve attended in previous years.
Dance Parade New York is the world’s only parade to exclusively celebrate and showcase the diversity of dance. This annual celebration of eclectic dance styles from around the world boasts tens of thousands of dancers and spectators, more than 80 styles of dance and nearly 200 dance groups.
The parade is a colorful explosion of beautiful dancers. A family and community favorite, the yearly parade is a one-of-a-kind display of New York’s richly diverse artistic community and the cohesive impact it has on the international community.
The parade commences at Broadway and 21st Street, travels south through Union Square, turns East onto 8th Street and continues into Tompkins Square Park in the East Village.
Both the parade and festival are excellent ways to educate the community about the evolution of dance, the vital role it has played in cultures around the globe, and the importance of supporting the organizations and individuals who work so hard to preserve and promote this vital art form.
TRADITIONAL AND MODERN DANCE FORMS
Dance Parade New York showcases cultural vibrancy with ethnic groups, including: African, Middle Eastern, Latin American, Asian, as well as social dance styles, including: Swing, Salsa, Tango, Hip Hop, club dancing, and more. Traditional dance forms such as Ballet, Modern, Tap and Jazz are also heavily represented during the parade. Modern forms include dancers from the New York Nightclub soulful house, electronic and burning man style performing artists along with hip-hop, whacking, voguing, popping and locking dancers.
WATCH OUT FOR THE NEW YORK DANCE POLICE!
A brigade of 30 uniformed men and women “NYDP” patrol the parade playfully seeking participants to join the dance. Continuing a fan favorite tradition started in 2007, audience members, onlookers or others not dancing are approached by the dance police and asked a few questions. Non-dancers are given a summons stating that they must report to a dance school or nightclub to serve time: dance lessons or practice. The summons is accompanied with a discount or free offer for entry to a club or school. The Dance Police’s vigor brings smiles to those being ticketed… maybe the NYPD should follow suit.
GRANDSTAND
The grandstand is located in Astor Place Plaza, where Fourth Avenue meets St. Mark’s Place. Seating more than 300 spectators, the stands are the best seat on the parade route as 10,000 dancers stop and perform.
Tickets are available for purchase and all proceeds go to the cost of the parade.
DanceFest 2018
DanceFest 2018 in Tompkins Square Park, the destination of the parade at Avenue A and Saint Marks Place, comes alive with choreographed performances, dance lessons and social dance – all free to the public. Five stages and site specific work throughout the park offer something for everybody including performances by culturally diverse participants from the parade and an opportunity to learn dance from the city’s best dance teachers.
