By Lucy Komisar
May 20, 2024
The first Dance Parade in 2007 was a protest, opposing a New York State Supreme Court judgment against the City of New York the year before that upheld the 1926 NYC Cabaret Law, ruling that social dance was not an “expressive activity” and therefore not protected by the constitutional freedom of speech.
It was a public and colorful citizen censure of the court, with 37 dance styles “expressed” by 2,321 participants. Dance Parade, Inc became a non-profit arts organization and started a Community Engagement education program. In 2017, the legislature repealed the law’s 91-year suppression of dance and culture.
The 18th annual Dance Parade featured over 10,000 dancers in more than 150 companies that kicked and swayed and even tapped through Greenwich Village and the East Village on Saturday and reminded one how culturally diverse (and talented) the city’s population is. Dancers sported their ethnic clothes as well as traditional steps. Here’s a collection that could as well be in a folk art museum.
There were many Latin American themed groups.
And Asian dancers.
Indian, Chinese, and Japanese performers.
And lots of kids.
All Star Studio dancers, the Dreamzzz Studio, the Brooklyn Diamonds getting ready.
Collaborative Arts Middle School and Kids doing PUSH.
And a little older
From the American Tap Dance Foundation and The Batalia Drummers.
A brilliant happening, which is ignored by the mainstream media which thinks the recent $$$ Met fundraiser is “culture.” No it isn’t culture, it is money-laundering ($ deducted from taxes). The Dance Parade is real culture.
This year’s event was May 18th. Check the website for next year’s date https://danceparade.org
The Parade starts at Sixth Avenue and 17th Street at 12 noon. Go there to see some preliminary performances. Then dancers march and twist down Sixth Ave to Eighth Street, turn east past the grandstand at Eighth Street and Fourth Avenue (at Astor Place) and go on to Tompkins Square Park for performances on five stages. There are also lessons. And the audience can dance, too. All is free except grandstand seating.
The parade is from noon-3pm, the Tompkins Square Park events at 3-7pm.
Photos by Lucy Komisar.