
A Canary Torsi’s COURT/GARDEN will be performed at Federal Hall June 19-20 (photo by Jose Espaillat)
The free summer dance season is upon us, with presentations in parks all around the city, including participatory programs in addition to companies from around the world and site-specific projects by local favorites. Bryant Park will be hosting several dance series, while Central Park (and others) has SummerStage and Prospect Park has Celebrate Brooklyn! River to River boasts the most exciting lineup, but you need to reserve your free space in advance. You’ll find other festivals below; more information will be added as it becomes available.
Wednesday, May 20
Dancing in Bryant Park: Swing and Lindy Hop, Fountain Terrace, 6:00
Thursday, May 21
Celebrate Brooklyn! Dance Parties: Electro Soul, with Jamie Liddell, Fixed, and Brooklyn United Marching Band, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 7:00
Wednesday, May 27
Dancing in Bryant Park: Samba e Mais, Fountain Terrace, 6:00
Thursday, May 28
Celebrate Brooklyn! Dance Parties: Latin Jazz, with Poncho Sanchez, Bobbito Garcia, and Salsa Salsa Dance, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 7:00
Wednesday, June 3
Dancing in Bryant Park: Tango, Fountain Terrace, 6:00
Saturday, June 6
SummerStage: KanKouran West African Dance Company, with Pre-Show Master Class led by Assane Konte, Red Hook Park, 7:00
Sunday, June 7
SummerStage: BattleFest League Dancers and screening of Flex Is Kings (Michael Beach Nichols and Deidre Schoo, 2013), Red Hook Park, 7:00
Wednesday, June 10
Dancing in Bryant Park: Bachata, Fountain Terrace, 6:00
Wednesday, June 17
Dancing in Bryant Park: West Coast Swing, Fountain Terrace, 6:00
Wednesday, June 17
and
Thursday, June 18
Hudson River Dance Festival, with Paul Taylor Dance Company, Parsons Dance, and Ballet Hispanico, Pier 63, Hudson River Park, Chelsea Piers, 6:30
Friday, June 19
Bryant Park Presents Modern Dance, Bryant Park Stage, 6:00
SummerStage: Laurie M. Taylor/Soul Movement, with Pre-Show Master Class led by Karisma Jay, Herbert Von King Park, 7:00
Friday, June 19, 8:00
and
Saturday, June 20, 3:00 & 8:00
River to River: Court/Garden, by A Canary Torsi, Federal Hall,
Friday, June 19
Sunday, June 21
Monday, June 22
River to River: Dance My Life, by Souleymane Badolo, Pier 15, advance RSVP required, 3:00
Friday, June 19
through
Sunday, June 28
River to River: Souvenir: Undone, site-specific dance project by Rachel Tess, St. Cornelius Chapel, Governors Island, advance RSVP required, 1:00 and/or 4:00

Twyla Tharp brings back THE ONE HUNDREDS in Rockefeller Park (photo © Tony Russell)
Saturday, June 20
SummerStage: Hearts of Men, with Pre-Show Master Class led by members of Hearts of Men, Herbert Von King Park, 7:00
River to River: The One Hundreds, by Twyla Tharp, Rockefeller Park, advance RSVP required, 7:00
Sunday, June 21
River to River: Trisha Brown: In Plain Site, Wagner Park, New York, by Trisha Brown Dance Company, Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park, advance RSVP required, 4:00 & 6:00
Monday, June 22, 6:30
Tuesday, June 23, 3:00
Wednesday, June 24, 1:00
River to River: A Body in Places: A Body in a Station, by Eiko Otake, location to be announced
Tuesday, June 23, 9:30
and
Sunday, June 28, 6:00
River to River: R2R Living Rooms with C∆N-D + DRELLA, VBar Seaport, RSVP recommended
Wednesday, June 24
Latin Dancing Festival, Fountain Terrace, Bryant Park
Dancing in Bryant Park: Cuban Salsa, Fountain Terrace, 6:00
Wednesday, June 24, 3:00
Thursday, June 25, 8:30
Friday, June 26, 8:30
River to River: The Set Up: Saya Lei, by Wally Cardona, Jennifer Lacey, and Jonathan Bepler, location to be announced, advance RSVP required
Wednesday, June 24, 5:00
Friday, June 26, 5:30
Saturday, June 27, 7:00
River to River: White, by Michelle Boulé, location to be announced, advance RSVP required
Thursday, June 25
and
Friday, June 26
River to River: 3 After 4, Experiment 4, by Sarah Michelson, location to be announced, advance RSVP required, 7:00
Thursday, June 25, 4:00 (open dress rehearsal)
Friday, June 26, 4:00
Saturday, June 27, 2:00
Sunday, June 28, 2:00
River to River: Love of a Poet, by John Kelly, Arts Center, Governors Island, advance RSVP required
Friday, June 26
Bryant Park Presents Modern Dance, Bryant Park Stage, 6:00
SummerStage: Hybrid Movement Company, the Incredible Incredible, and IMPACT Repertory Theatre
Crotona Park, 7:00
Friday, June 26, 1:00
Saturday, June 27, 5:00
Sunday, June 28, 5:00
River to River: Fall of the Rebel Angels: X, by Catherine Galasso, Yellow House, Nolan Park, Governors Island, advance RSVP required
Friday, June 26, 3:00
Saturday, June 27, 3:30
Sunday, June 28, 3:30
River to River: Cribles/Governors Island, by Emmanuelle Huynh – Company Mùa, Parade Ground, Governors Island, advance RSVP required
Saturday, June 28
River to River: Open Studios with Eiko & Emmanuelle Huynh, Arts Center, advance RSVP required, Governors Island, 1:00
River to River: Open Studios with Wally Cardona, Jonathan Bepler, and Dr. Chikako Yamauchi, Arts Center, Governors Island, advance RSVP required, 2:00
Thursday, July 2
SummerStage: Un Break à Mozart, the DASH Ensemble, Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, 7:00
Friday, July 3
Bryant Park Presents Modern Dance, Bryant Park Stage, 6:00
Saturday, July 5
SummerStage: Global Family Day, with Shine and the Moonbeams and special guest the Noel Pointer Youth Orchestra, the Red Trouser Show, Batoto Yetu, Ziporah Roney and Collaborative Artists, Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, 2:00
Friday, July 10
Bryant Park Presents Modern Dance, Bryant Park Stage, 6:00
Saturday, July 11
SummerStage — Hip Hop Dance: From the Street to the Stage, with a Master Class led by Brandon “Peace” Albright, St. Mary’s Park, 7:00

Rashida Bumbray & Dance Diaspora Collective will perform RUN, MARY, RUN in Queensbridge Park on July 18 (photo by John Rogers)
Saturday, July 18
SummerStage — Rashida Bumbray & Dance Diaspora Collective: Run, Mary, Run, with Master Class led by Jamel Gaines, Queensbridge Park, 7:00
Friday, July 24
Lincoln Center Out of Doors — Dorrance Dance: The Blues Project Revisited with Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely, Damrosch Park Bandshell, 7:30
Saturday, July 25
Lincoln Center Out of Doors Family Day: Heidi Latsky Dance, Josie Robertson Plaza, 3:30
Lincoln Center Out of Doors Family Day: National Dance Day, Josie Robertson Plaza, 4:00
Saturday, July 25, 12 noon, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00
and
Sunday, July 26, 4:00 – 6:00
Lincoln Center Out of Doors Family Day — Bridgman|Packer Dance: Truck, Jaffe Drive / Toll Porte-cochère
Sunday, July 26
Lincoln Center Out of Doors — Chinese American Arts Council Dancers: From Chinatown with Love, Hearst Plaza, 3:00
Wednesday, July 29
SummerStage: PHILADANCO! and TU Dance, Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, 7:00
Thursday, July 30
Passport Thursdays – India: Parul Shah Dance Company, Haider (Vishal Bhardwaj, 2014), Queens Museum
Saturday, August 1
Lincoln Center Out of Doors: A Celebration of the Life of Geoffrey Holder, with the panel discussion “The Life and Work of Geoffrey Holder” and screening of documentary Carmen and Geoffrey (Nick Doob, 2005) and rare archival footage, Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 1:00
Lincoln Center Out of Doors: Garth Fagan Dance, Carmen de Lavallade: The Creation, the Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble, Damrosch Park Bandshell, 7:30
Sunday, August 2
Lincoln Center Out of Doors: Heritage Sunday — Opening Doors: Celebrating Immigrant New York, featuring Abdoulaye Diabaté and Super Manden, Boodoosingh Tassa Drummers, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, Csűrdöngölő Folk Ensemble, and Ikhlaq Hussain, Hearst Plaza, 1:00
Monday, August 3
through
Saturday, August 8
Dance at Socrates: Week 1, Socrates Sculpture Park
Thursday, August 6
Lincoln Center Out of Doors: We Like It Like That! A Boogaloo Celebration with Joe Bataan; Ray Lugo and the Boogaloo Destroyers with special guest Richie Ray and Pete Rodriguez; ABAKUÁ Afro-Latin Dance Company; DJ Turmix, Damrosch Park Bandshell, 7:00
Celebrate Brooklyn! LeeSaar the Company, Ohad Naharin & Guest Dancers from Batsheva Dance Company, Prospect Park Bandshell, 8:00
Monday, August 10
through
Saturday, August 15
Dance at Socrates: Week 2, Socrates Sculpture Park
Saturday, August 8
SummerStage: Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company, Master Class: Karisma Jay, East River Park, 7:00
Thursday, August 13
Passport Thursdays – South Korea: Korean Traditional Music & Dance Center, Miss Granny (Hwang Dong-hyuk, 2014), Queens Museum
Monday, August 17
through
Saturday, August 22
Dance at Socrates: Week 1, Socrates Sculpture Park
Friday, September 4, 6:00
Saturday, September 5, 5:00
Sunday, September 6, 3:00 & 5:00
Suite Summer Festival, with In-Sight Dance Company, Socrates Sculpture Park