August 2017 – Dancers from around the corner and around the globe held center stage on the lower tip of Manhattan for the 2017 Battery Dance Festival!
This year, the city’s longest running free public dance festival hosted an eclectic line up of emerging and established talent for six consecutive nights.
The New York Harbor, along with the Statue of Liberty in full view, provided a picturesque backdrop for the 36th annual Festival.
The Battery Dance Festival has deep roots in the city of New York. Through its arts in education programs – Battery dancers continue to serve as teaching artists in the five boroughs – Bringing the magic of dance to primary, middle and high school students. In preparation for this year’s festival, NYC VIBE stopped in to watch the dancers rehearse at Battery Studios in Lower Manhattan.
Unlike performances in theaters and auditoriums, dancing under the stars at Robert F. Wagner Park is a unique experience for the performers and the audience. With a strong emphasis on variety and range of styles, the Battery Dance Festival presented works that were as diverse as the people who live, work and visit New York City. Dance companies from Spain, Belgium, Botswana, India and Sri Lanka – among other regions of the world – performed alongside local ensembles.
With a spirit of artistic excellence, social relevance and access to the arts for everyone – The Battery Dance Festival looks forward to a bright future in New York City.