In celebration of the art of dance, Battery Dance is partnering with Battery Park City Authority this August for the 44th annual Battery Dance Festival. The multi-day event will be taking place in Rockefeller Park from August 12th-16th, combining performances from eight dynamic dance companies from around the world with eight companies home to New York, as well as featuring workshops and live music.
The week prior to the festival, Battery Dance will also be celebrating the re-opening of Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park, joining other dance companies for a 1-hour performance program. The park closed for a two-year pause in which it was rebuilt in an effort to protect Battery Park City and lower Manhattan from rising sea levels. Battery Dance will be accompanied by Marie Poncé, The Limón Dance Company, and tap dancer John Manzari.
Battery Dance Festival is New York’s longest-running free public dance festival, attracting crowds of over 12,000 in-person and 35,000 virtual viewers. The rain date for the festival is August 17, and the current schedule of performers is listed below, which is subject to change.
- Tuesday, August 12: John Manzari & Band, excerpts of Recenter (USA); Pace University Dancing to Connect conducted by Robin Cantrell (USA); Battery Dance, Sense of Belonging, a world premiere by Faizah Grootens (USA); Faizah Grootens, While You’re Here (Netherlands), Bulareyaung Dance Company, Colors (Taiwan)
- Wednesday, August 13: UNARTE, Verso Roto (Spain -World Premiere); Theater Plauen – Zwickau Ballet Ensemble, Eden (South Korea/Germany); Bulareyaung Dance Company, Colors (Taiwan); Faizah Grootens While You’re Here (Netherlands), Platforma 13, Balkan Ballerinas (Romania – U.S. Premiere)
- Thursday, August 14: Kar-mel Small, La Manta de Reina (USA); Theater Plauen – Zwickau Ballet Ensemble, Eden (South Korea/Germany); Platforma 13, Balkan Ballerinas (Romania – U.S. Premiere); UNARTE, Verso Roto (Spain -World Premiere); Buglisi Dance Theatre, Sospiri (USA), Battery Dance, Empty Hand by Damani Pompey (USA – World Premiere)
- Friday, August 15: India Day- Dances of Kerala, presenting dancers and musicians from five different dance, theater and martial arts traditions from the Southwestern Indian State of Kerala: Kalaripayattu, Kutiyattam, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam and Theyyam.
- Saturday August 16: Mofassal Al Alif, In Search of You ( Bangladesh); Ô’tänamos, Aeternus Viator (USA – World Premiere) Battery Dance, Sense of Belonging by Faizah Grootens (USA- World Premiere); Wan Dance, Mak Long (Indonesia – New York Debut); Dorchel Haqq, Swallow (USA – World Premiere) Al-Dal’ouna Dabka Team, Dal’ouna Events (USA)
For more information, visit batterydance.org.