Downtown Dance Festival
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| Country and Region | United States — New York |
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| Type of Festival | Dance |
| Location of Festival | New York, New York USA |
| Festival Contact Information | Downtown Dance Festival |
| Festival Description | Battery Dance Company presents the 31st Annual Downtown Dance Festival, 8 days of free performances staged at Battery Park, One New York Plaza and at Dance New Amsterdam on August 11th-18th. The DDF is New York City’s longest-running public dance festival and is Battery Dance Company’s gift to its home community. International highlights this year include Sri Warisan, a 15-member troupe from Singapore that is known for its authentic presentation of Malay ethnic dance, music and theater; Vanaver Caravan, the dance and music ensemble from New Paltz performing a tribute to Woody Guthrie on the legendary American folk musician’s centenary year; Philadelphia-based Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers, and ten New York companies showcasing various genres ranging from modern ballet to fusion. On Friday, August 17, in a special celebration of Indian culture, the Indo-American Arts Council has curated the 5th Edition of the Erasing Borders of Indian Dance Festival. |
| Festival Dates | August 11 - 17, 2012 |
| Festival Links |
Festival Story:
Established by Battery Dance Company in 1982, the Downtown Dance Festival (DDF) is New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival. Audiences are traditionally drawn from the large downtown working population bolstered by residents, families, tourists, senior citizens and dance fans from the greater NYC metropolitan area. Last year, the Festival drew a combined audience of over 10,000 people. Battery Dance Company has invited the Indo-American Arts Council to curate and co-sponsor a full day of the Downtown Dance Festival as part of the 3rd Annual Erasing Borders Festival of Indian Dance. This continues Battery Dance Company’s commitment to introducing downtown audiences to exceptional Indian dance.
The Downtown Dance Festival provides a unique opportunity for both professional and emerging dancers and choreographers to present original works of high artistic merit in a free public forum. The DDF revels in the panoply of dance that our city offers, with strong emphasis on the inclusion of diverse dance styles and an international roster of performers. American choreographers such as Paul Taylor, Mary Anthony, Elizabeth Streb, Jane Comfort and Darrell Moultrie have all presented their works alongside pre-eminent companies from Asia, Europe and the Caribbean.
Festival Events:
Workshop 2012:
- Details
- Battery Dance Company will offer a workshop series in conjunction with the 2012 Downtown Dance Festival. The workshops will take place at DNA Dance New Amsterdam August 6-10 and 13-17, 2012 from 10:00am-3:30pm. Each day will consist of 3 classes taught by principal dancers from BDC, Lars Lubowich, Merce Cunningham, and several other premier NYC companies. Tadej Brdnik, a principal dancer with the Martha Graham Company, is responsible for the curation of the series and will also be teaching during the second week. International dancers from Brazil and Italy will be present, along with dancers from the groups participating in the Downtown Dance Festival. All styles are encouraged to attend.
- Fee
- Each class will cost $15 per dancer, with discounts available to those interested in buying a full package of 15 or 30 classes. Class sign-up will be available on site, but pre-registration is highly recommended, as space is limited and preference will be given to those who enroll prior to the first day of workshops.
- Additional information
- For more information or to register, please email elena@batterydance.orgg or call (212)219-3910. A detailed schedule will be available at http://www.batterydance.org.
Other Sources:
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Podcast interviews:
- If you like this festival — listen to…
- Naomi Goldberg Haas, dancer
http://kadmusarts.com/podcasts/?p=1885
- Naomi Goldberg Haas, dancer
Practical Info:
Photo slideshow credits:
- In order of appearance
- BALAM – BALAM Dance Theatre, USA (www.BALAMdance.org)
- Battery - Battery Dance Company, USA (www.batterydance.org)
- Battery - Battery Dance Company, USA (www.batterydance.org)
- Battery - Battery Dance Company, USA (www.batterydance.org)
- Sutra - Sutra Dance Theatre, Malaysia (www.sutrafoundation.org.my)
Venue 2012:
- Saturday, August 11 — Sunday, August 12, 2012
The Lawn at Battery Park
- Time 1:00pm-4:00pm
- Directions
Adjacent to State Street at Pearl Street By Subway: 1 to South Ferry; 4/5 to Bowling Green; R/W to Whitehall
- Monday, August 13—Friday, August 17, 2012
One New York Plaza
- Time 12:00pm-2:00pm
- Directions
Water and Whitehall Streets. By Subway: 1 to South Ferry, R to Whitehall, 4/5 to Bowling Green
- Date to be determined
Master Class and Workshop
- Location: New Dance Amsterdam
- Directions
280 Broadway, (Between Reade and Chamber Street). By Subway: NR to City Hall, 4/5/6 to City Hall/Brooklyn Bridge, 1/2/3 Chamber Street
Classes 2012:
- Each class will cost $15 per dancer, with discounts available to those interested in buying a full package of 15 or 30 classes. Class sign-up will be available on site, but pre-registration is highly recommended, as space is limited and preference will be given to those who enroll prior to the first day of workshops. For more information or to register, please email elena@batterydance.orgg or call (212)219-3910. A detailed schedule will be available at http://www.batterydance.org.
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