If you’ve spent any nights in town and you enjoy nightlife, then you already know that there are plenty of places to go out and dance! Quite possibly one of the most fun options we have in our city available to us on any given night (or day).  And while the headline may lead you to believe this is about dancing downtown, it is but not in the way that you are likely thinking of. We’re talking about a free event that has been going on for 41 years!

The Battery Dance Festival is New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival. Each year, the Festival draws a combined audience of over 12,000 in-person and over 35,000 virtual viewers.  Battery Dance connects the world through dance. The Company pursues artistic excellence and social relevance by creating vibrant new works, performing on the world’s stages, presenting dance in public spaces, serving the field of dance and teaching people of all ages with special attention to the disadvantaged and areas of conflict. Battery Dance is committed to enhancing the cultural vibrancy of its home community in New York City, extending programming throughout the U.S., and building bridges worldwide through international cultural exchange.

For the past 40 years Battery Dance has toured, held master classes, lectured and presented, provided technical training, and conducted its signature arts education program Dancing to Connect in over 54 countries worldwide. Battery Dance has partnered with over 200 foreign organizations and continues to lead the arts community in heralding new and innovative international collaborations. Our history of reaching diverse international audiences has earned the organization a reputation of being a leader in cultural diplomacy.

The lineup includes multiple U.S. or world premieres, and the participating companies include visiting groups from Singapore, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands and Canada. It’s an epic event that has been around for so long for that reason. You don’t want to miss this free event.

For more information and tickets visit batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival/