Our Bureau
New York, NY
This August, Battery Dance returns to the waterfront in spectacular fashion, transforming Wagner Park into a vibrant hub of movement, music, and cultural celebration in partnership with Battery Park City Authority. The Festival begins on August 10 with dynamic community workshops led by selected local dance groups, inviting New Yorkers of all ages to connect directly with artists through shared movement and cultural exchange. On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the performances officially begin as the Festival proudly celebrates its legacy as New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival—an unforgettable annual tradition that brings together extraordinary artists and audiences from around the world.
The 45th Annual Battery Dance Festival marks a milestone moment, honoring 50 years of Battery Dance and the visionary leadership of founder and Artistic Director Jonathan Hollander. This landmark edition showcases a dazzling, multicultural lineup of artists, featuring bold voices and movement traditions from across the globe—uniting genres, cultures, and creative perspectives in a powerful celebration of artistic expression.
Returning to the stunning waterfront at Wagner Park, the Festival unfolds over a full week of dynamic programming. Each evening offers two exhilarating hours of performances, including the beloved interactive segment Everybody Dance Now, where audiences are invited to move, connect, and celebrate together.
With a distinct theme each night, the Festival remains rooted in its core mission: to present an eclectic spectrum of dance to New York audiences, expand access to the arts for all, and uplift emerging New York-based companies as vital voices in today’s dance landscape. This free, citywide celebration transforms the park into a vibrant hub of creativity—featuring performances, hands-on workshops at Battery Dance Studios, and immersive experiences designed to engage and inspire audiences of all ages.
Presented in partnership with Battery Park City Authority.
Battery Dance Festival Outdoor Free Community Workshops at Wagner Park
Monday, August 10
Monday, August 10:
On August 10, the Festival launches with an exciting series of free community dance workshops led by selected local dance groups participating in this year’s Festival, welcoming New Yorkers of all ages and experience levels to move, learn, and connect through dance. Designed especially for beginners, each 45-minute workshop will introduce participants to a different dance style and cultural tradition, creating an accessible and joyful space for discovery and community engagement. Workshops begin at 4:00pm and offer a unique opportunity to learn directly from artists while celebrating the diversity and energy of New York City’s dance community.
4:00pm – 4:45pm: Ashley Liang Dance Company
5:00pm – 5:45pm: Battery Dance
6:00pm – 6:45pm: Ina Medhanet
7:00pm – 7:45pm: Allpayana Danza Tradicional Ecuatoriana
Battery Dance Festival Performance Schedule at Wagner Park
Tuesday, August 11 – Sunday, August 16 at 7pm
Tuesday, August 11:
Battery Dance: then by Rosalind Newman (USA- NYC Premiere); Soles of Duende: excerpt of The Kitchen by Amanda Castro, Arielle Rosales, Brinda Guha (USA- World Premiere); Jessee Leigh Robinson: For Whom The Bell Tolls by Jessee Leigh Robinson (USA- originally premiered in 2026); BODYSONNET: Say I Am You by Moscelyne ParkeHarrison (USA- originally premiered in 2022); konverjdans: We Tell Ourselves Stories (USAoriginally premiered in 2022); Movimento em Foco: Voices that Echo Within Us by Lucas Mendes (Brazil – US Premiere)
Wednesday, August 12:
Battery Dance: Heloha, a newly commissioned work by former New York City Ballet principal dancer Jock Soto (USA – World Premiere); Cía Elías Aguirre: Flowerheads by Elías Aguirre (Spain- US Premiere); Movimiento em Foco: Voices that Echo Within Us by Lucas Mendes (Brazil – US Premiere); Maria-Luiza Dimulescu & Camelia Neagoe: Maybe by 2301, We Won’t Need Another Feminist Show by Maria-Luiza Dimulescu & Camelia Neagoe (Romania, US Premiere); CRDANCE: excerpt of Alta Marea by Caterina Rago (USA – originally premiered in 2024)
Thursday, August 13:
Erik Debono/A Point 5 Co: Dots & Nets by Erik Debono; Cía Elías Aguirre: Flowerheads by Elías Aguirre (Spain-US Debut); Seyong Kim: The Moon reflected in East Sea by Seyong Kim; Maria-Luiza Dimulescu & Camelia Neagoe: Maybe by 2301, We Won’t Need Another Feminist Show by Maria-Luiza Dimulescu & Camelia Neagoe (Romania, US Debut); Miguel Miranda: Se Va by Miguel Miranda (USA, originally premiered in 2024); Mailantia Dance Company: Mutual by Yun-Chi Lai (Taiwan, US Premiere)
Friday, August 14:
NANM, A Robenson Mathurin Dance Company: Legacy in Rhythm by Robenson Mathurin (US – NY Premiere); DPRdance: Scat Cats by Dougie Robbins (USA – originally premiered in 2018); Allpayana Ecuadorian Traditional Dance: Otavalo Wedding by Christian Perez (US – NY Premiere); Ashley Liang Dance Company: Silk Road by Ashley Liang (USA – originally premiered in 2021); Mailantia Dance Company: Mutual by Yun-Chi Lai (Taiwan, US Premiere); Ina Medhanet: Egungun – The Journey is the Medicine by Ina Kwayana (USA- originally premiered in 2024)
Saturday, August 15: The Battery Dance Festival continues its tradition with a vibrant tribute to the beauty and depth of Indian dance, honoring the spirit of Indian Independence Day.
Sindhoor Natya – Navarasa: Excerpts from ENCOUNTER by Aparna Sindhoor and Anil Natyaveda (US– NYC Premiere); Tanveer Alam: Zikr by Tanveer Alam (Canada – US Premiere); Nava Dance Theatre: Rogue Gestures/Foreign Bodies by Nadhi Thekkek (US – NY Premiere) ; Mesma Belsaré: SIREN by Mesma Belsaré (US – NY Premiere); Jeevika Bhat: Clothesline by Jeevika Bhat (US – originally premiered in 2025)
Sunday, August 16: Maxine Steinman & Dancers: A Measure of Quarantine by Maxine Steinman (USA – originally premiered in 2024); Half a Century: Between Us by Melanie Futorian (USA – World Premiere); Julia Weber: Ballade by Julia Weber (USA – originally premiered in 2025); Thomas/Ortiz Dance: Disclaimer by Ted Thomas and Frances Ortiz (USA – originally premiered in 2025); Nat Wilson: Someone Has to Leave First by Nat Wilson in collaboration with Grace Whitworth (USA – originally premiered in 2025); Jon Lehrer Dance Company: Murmur by Jon Lehrer (USA – originally premiered in 2012); Battery Dance: newly commissioned work by Sidra Bell (USA – World Premiere).