On Saturday, May 17th, over 10,000 dancers gathered at 17th Street and Sixth Avenue to launch a United Nations of Dance—kicking off the 19th Annual Dance Parade with a ribbon-cutting by Parade Grand Marshals Mercedes Ellington, David Parsons, Funmilayo Chesney, and Danny Tenaglia. Behind them, the beloved Disco Kitty art car led out 150 dance organizations through the streets of Manhattan, showcasing everything from Ballet to Breakdance, Mexican to Mambo, Hustle to Hip-Hop and Latvian to Lindy!

 

Sunshine graced the entire day as crowds lined Sixth Avenue and 8th Street/St. Marks to witness a whirlwind of movement, color, and culture. From the Grand Stand at Astor Place to a dazzling finale in Tompkins Square Park, DanceFest featured over 100 unique styles across two main stages, six site-specific performances, and DJ sets by Ali Coleman, Jeannie Hopper, and Danny Tenaglia himself.

 

Thanks to your support, the parade made headlines in The New York Times, Fox5, 1010WINS, and all over social media. Though it's taken a couple weeks to gather our breath—and our favorite images—we’re thrilled to finally share some of the joy through the photo highlights below.

 

📅 Mark your calendars for two epic celebrations of dance:
– Saturday, May 16, 2026: Dance Parade NYC turns 20!
– Sunday, September 14, 2025: The first-ever Dance Parade Philadelphia dances across the Ben Franklin Parkway to the iconic Art Museum.
👉 Sign up or learn more »

✊ Help protect dance in New York and beyond: LegalizeDance.org

 

With love and rhythm,

 

Share the joy of Dance Parade: