MEDIA ALERT

MAY 13: CITY HALL PRESS CONFERENCE FOR 20TH ANNUAL DANCE PARADE NEW YORK

See 40 Dancers in Full Costume and Hear From Grand Marshals and City Officials Celebrating the Largest Dance Parade in the World + Fighting for the Right to Dance!

WHO:

• Greg Miller, Executive Director, Dance Parade New York

• City Leadership:

• District 2 Council Member, Harvey Hepstein

• Commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Diya Vij

• Director of the Office of Nightlife, Jeff Garcia

• General Counsel, Hospitality Alliance, Rob Bookman

• Potential appearance by the Mayor

• 2026 Grand Marshals: Timmy Regisford and Jeff Selby (Photo Opportunity)

• Performers: Live, high-energy dance activation featuring 40 dancers in costume.

WHAT:
Dance Parade New York will host its official 20th Anniversary Press Conference to announce the upcoming annual Parade and Festival. The event will open with a live, visually compelling dance activation designed to draw immediate media attention. Speakers will celebrate the cultural vitality of New York City while also reflecting on two decades of advocacy at the intersection of art, policy, and equity—including collaborative efforts to modernize historically restrictive regulations and address inequities connected to the legacy of the Cabaret Law. The program will highlight dance as both cultural expression and civic voice, emphasizing ongoing work to protect social dancing as a First Amendment right. The event will conclude with a photo opportunity featuring the Grand Marshals and a medley of dances by 40 dancers in costume.

WHEN:
Wednesday, May 13, 2026

• Media Check-in: 11:45 AM

• Press Conference: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

WHERE:
Steps of New York City Hall

• Entrance at Murray Street & Broadway, Manhattan

WHY:

Celebrating two decades, Dance Parade New York continues its mission as a vital civic and cultural force advancing both artistic expression and social equity. The 20th Anniversary press conference highlights New York City’s largest dance event, featuring over 10,000 dancers and 100+ styles of dance at the annual Parade and Tompkins Square Festival on May 16, 2026. Beyond celebration, the event underscores a 20-year legacy of advocacy exploring how dance—particularly within Black, Latino, immigrant, and other historically marginalized communities—has been shaped and at times suppressed by policy. Officials and advocates will share updates on ongoing efforts to evolve NYS Liquor Authority licensing and related frameworks to better support safe, inclusive spaces for dance. This includes the work of LegalizeDance.org, which partners in advancing policies that recognize dance as a protected First Amendment right, connecting cultural expression to broader goals of equity, inclusion, and community well-being.

RAIN PLAN: 

If any rain is forecast, participants are encouraged to bring umbrellas. If more than .2” is forecast between 12 PM - 1PM, Presser will move to the City Hall Terrace under the portico.

Parade Program: danceparade.org/see-the-parade

Festival Program: danceparade.org/dancefest

Run of Show: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I9N9BbU6g5DbgWETVeIHHcCe3FT0uHzZ/view?usp=sharing 

Press Kit: http://bit.ly/4lZrAfk

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