The Battery Dance Festival, in association with the Battery Park City Authority, is returning to Lower Manhattan for its 45th annual iteration — making it the longest-running public dance festival in the city. Taking place in Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park, the free programming running from now until August 16 celebrates the festival’s decades-long commitment to multicultural exchange and community-building through dance.
The lineup centers many different global dance styles from a diverse cast of performers, in addition to many artistic approaches. From the abstract narratives you’ll find in “Flowerheads” by Cía Elías Aguirre, to the philosophical and spiritual concepts in Ina Medhanet’s “The Healers —The Journey Is the Medicine,” to the political messaging in “Maybe by 2301, we won’t need another feminist show” by Maria-Luiza Dimelscu and Camelia Neagoe, each 7 p.m. performance has an intentional, thought-provoking message.
A number of performances also focus on cultural themes and traditional dance styles, such as the Chinese and modern fusion in “Silk Road” by Ashley Liang Dance Company as well the tap, flamenco and Kathak fusion in “The Kitchen” by Soles of Duende. You can also expect a full evening of Indian dances on August 15, including a traditional bharatanatyam in the piece “Rogue Gestures/Foreign Bodies” by Nava Dance Theater. Many performers and companies involved with the festival are international, with representation from Spain, Romania and Taiwan, to name a few. And if you like to dance yourself, note that each evening will conclude with an “Everybody Dance Now” segment where audiences are encouraged to participate in a community dance.
While registration is not necessary to attend, doing so will get you on the email list for updates and bonus content. Note that some evenings include pre-show events and associated $1 workshop classes, so it is recommended to check out each individual day’s lineup ahead of time on Battery Dance’s website. Register here.
photo: iStock
