The 11th annual Dance Parade and Festival returns to the heart of Manhattan

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New York, NY – The largest dance event in the Northeast is set for the 11th Annual Dance Parade and Festival in New York City on Saturday, May 20, 2017. The free annual event, with more than 80,000 spectators, draws on the city’s incomparable and rich diverse dance talent, to feature thousands of dancers from all over the city, and out of town, for a vibrant street parade and dance festival.

Beginning at 21st and Broadway, the procession ends at Tompkins Square in the East Village for the festival and celebrates myriads of dance styles in a multi-cultural, rhythmic-infused magical display of the human body in motion.

“With our country divided after the election, we’re proud to bring 80+ unique dance styles and cultures together,” said Greg Miller, executive director of Dance Parade, a non-profit organization. “The dance community decided the theme ‘Dance For Peace” and we will start the parade with a minute of silence for those who can’t dance, followed by an eruption of moving artistry that’ll rock the city!”

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Dance styles reflect the cosmopolitan legacy fo the city and the elastic inventiveness of the form, and include African, Asian-Indian, ballet, Indian bhangra, Bolivian Tinkus, Brazilian zouk, breakdance, Chinese, hip-hop, Irish, Indonesian, Jamaican Dance Hall, lindy hop, modern, roller disco, salsa, samba, Tahitian, tango and Tibetan. One third of the registered groups hail from states other than New York.

Among this year’s highlights so far are 50 organizations featuring 30 dance styles including Clogging Connection and six majorettes groups.

A Grand Marshal launches the parade in a ribbon cutting ceremony. Past Grand Marshals include Garth Fagan, Carmen de Lavallade, Robert Battle, Savion Glover, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Dr. Charles ‘Chuck’ Davis, Jacqulyn Buglisi and Louie Vega.

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Leading out the parade will be over 100 New York City youth who will dance in their “debut on Broadway” after having participated in a ten-week dance education program in workshops sponsored by New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and funded by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The workshops are run in urban centers in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan.

No Parade would be complete without the New York Dance Police (NYDP), a volunteer group of men and women who inspire the crowds to dance and celebrate the spirit of Dance Parade. Anyone caught not dancing could be ticketed which includes a summons to attend a free dance class in the city.

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