Dance parade is an annual parade and festival that showcases dance of all kinds as an expression of art and culture. It takes place in New York City each May, on the Saturday before Memorial Day.
Background
Greg Miller, a social entrepreneur and dance aficionado, established the non-profit organization in December, 2006 and led an all-volunteer group that produced the inaugural parade on May 19, 2007. Over 2300 dancers from 75 organizations made their way down Manhattan’s Broadway and Fifth Avenue on and around eight floats. Ending in front of the Washington Square Memorial Arch, the parade culminated in 31 performances highlighting native New York dance styles such as hip-hop, jazz dance, break dancing, and salsa. Participants included the original B-boys, Keith and Kevin Smith; DJs Danny Tenaglia and Kool Herc; and Frieda Williams.
As defined by its Board of Directors (Mahayana Landowne, Trevor Hochman and Greg Miller), Dance parade’s mission is “to promote dance as an expressive and unifying art form by showcasing all forms of dance, educating the general public about the opportunities to experience dance, and celebrating diversity of dance in New York City by sponsoring a yearly city-wide dance parade and dance festival”.
In 2007, with Washington Square Park under renovation, the parade terminated in Tompkins Square Park. With the support of New York State Governor David Paterson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the second annual Dance Parade drew 108 organizations representing 31 styles of dance, ten floats, and over 4,000 dancers. Jazz dance legend Luigi was the Grand Marshal, accompanied by Miss Dance USA, the New York Knicks City Dancers, as well as ballerinas, salsaros, and club kids. Thirty-nine performances took place on stage in the park, and workshops gave the public the chance to learn dance.
The 2010 Dance Parade took place on Saturday May 22. The parade featured swing dancing, samba, tango, pole dancers and more.
Participation is free and open to all who sign up at the official website.
Every April 29, the organizers celebrate International Dance Day with a fundraiser and performances. As an all volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the organization relies on public and private support.