LIFT OFF - Press Release
For Immediate Release 
Contact: Rebecca Myles
Tel: 917-326-0802
Email: publicity@danceparade.
MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE AT THE 13TH ANNUAL DANCE PARADE
AND DANCEFEST W/170 GROUPS, 100 DIFFERENT STYOLES OF DANCE,
PLUS NATIVE AMERICAN CIRCLE DANCE
New York, NY April 25, 2019 – That grand celebration of Dance – Dance Parade – will gather dancers together on Saturday, May 18th at 12:35pm on 21er and Broadway, and begin with a ceremonial Native American circle dance led by grand marshal Louis Mofsie of the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers because when we honor Native American dance, we acknowledge that we are all immigrants.
At 1:00 pm the parade of approximately 10,000 dancers – students to professionals and of all ages - presenting over 100 genres of dance will then dance their way down Broadway to Astor Place. In front of the grandstand in Astor Place, groups with a choreography will present a 40-second performance before continuing east on St. Mark’s Place and settling in Tompkins Square Park. The festivities continue in the park from 3:00pm to 7:00pm with free classes and performances on five set-up stages.
Joining grand marshal Louis Mofsie are grand marshals Tony Award winders, Bill T. Jones of New York Live Arts, Baayork Lee with her drama club at PS124, and DJ Dara, drum and base legend of hot New York hottest night club, House of Yes.
"This year’s honorees for Grand Marshall were selected because of their commitment to promoting diversity, equity, humanity, inclusion and unity, in their art and work," said Greg Miller, Dance Parade’s executive director. “Dance is truly a universal language and the Parade and DanceFest really is a Movement of the People.”
Dance styles reflect the cosmopolitan legacy of the city and the elastic inventiveness of the form. Among this year’s highlights are 20 dancers with the contemporary ballet Steeledance who will perform moving choreography through the streets. Joining them will be Xianix Berrera (Flamenco), 5RhythmsGlobal, Indian Bhangra, Kids Breaking League, Nia Community Services and the IS281 dance team, 40 Disco Love (Hustle) dancers, 100+ Xdance dancers…the list goes on and on!
"Representing the Dominican Republic is Los Andulleros de Santiago, USA,” enthused Jennifer Hidalgo. “A group of Dominican carnival performers who dance to the rhythm of Caribbean music showcasing their festive colorful costumes, masks and different carnival characters - the Lechones, Carnaval Queens, La Machanta, Roba la Gallina and many others. It's the mystical experience of colorful dancing devils right here on Earth!”
Leading the parade will be over 200 enthusiastic city youth and elders dancing their "debut on Broadway" and having the fun of their lives. The young and old dancers will have participated in a ten-week education program of dance workshops sponsored by New York City Departments of Parks and Recreation and funded by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The workshops are run in schools, recreation centers and city parks in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Though the cabaret law has been repealed, the parade will honor its roots with a presence by the New York Dance Police (NYDP) – a jovial group of uniformed officers inspiring the crowds to dance and celebrate the spirit of Dance Parade. In contrast to the real Dance Police of the Mayor Giuliani era, anyone caught not dancing could be cited with a summons to attend a free dance class or party in the city.
For our Media Kit including high resolution photos and more information about Dance Parade and our education programs please visit:https://danceparade.org/