Virtual International Battery Dance Festival

presented by Battery Dance

August 12-13, 2021, 7pm 
Free / Online on YouTube

Battery Dance Festival, New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival, was established by Battery Dance as the Downtown Dance Festival in 1982. It normally draws audiences of approximately 2,000 people each night. The Festival went virtual last summer, attracting 30,000 viewers across 206 countries. This summer, it will run as a hybrid model with 6 nights of staged performances for in-person and live-streamed audiences, preceded by 3 nights of virtual performances by international artists.

“Dancing in the open air, with the river and sky in the background, is always a blissful Battery Dance Festival experience,” said Jonathan Hollander, President and Artistic Director, Battery Dance Company & Dancing to Connect. “This year, it will be even more exhilarating as people come out of isolation to witness the entrancing performances at Wagner Park. Before the action starts on stage, three nights of truly riveting dance films from many corners of the globe will be screened. Creativity was running high during the pandemic, and we have harvested a heady mix from voguing on a mountaintop in Lebanon to swing dancing in South Korea; commedia dell'arte in Mexico to birdlike flocking in the Netherlands.”

For more information, please visit https://batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival.

Take a trip around the world on the first night of the 40th Annual Battery Dance Festival! You’ll be introduced to compelling dancers and filmmakers from the Netherlands, South Korea, Mexico and Tanzania before touchdown in Puerto Rico.

▲ Uninhabited Island by DANCE TROUPE BRAVEMAN / JAEWOO JUNG

Humans are lonely animals, and I too am a lonely creature. I live by the motto “Life of solitude” and yet I am so vulnerable to loneliness. When I am suddenly engulfed in loneliness, I live as though I am on an uninhabited island only to survive. This piece reflects the process, struggles and survival of all who enter and exit between the real world and the Isle of Solitude. The human being is a solitary social animal.

Braveman’s artistic director, Jaewoo Jung is known for his choreography that features vigorous, fiery movements. His work has been presented in festivals around the world such as the New York 92Y Harkness Dance Center, Israel Suzanne Dellal, Czech Republic ProArt Festival, Hungary Monotanc Festival, Bulgaria Water Festival for Contemporary Arts, SIDance, Seoul International Choreography festival (SCF), MODAFE.

Swing out to the Lindy Hop in South Korea. Traverse an Argentinian ecological reserve with a Teatro Colon ballet prodigy. Navigate a raging river in Switzerland with a gaggle of amphibious dancers. Climb up the façade of a Vietnamese dance center. Camp out and dance in the South Australian landscape.

▲ As a Part of Lindy Hop Evolution by TEAM AJC / ANDY SEO

The Lindy Hop is an American dance born in the African-American communities in New York. We are grateful to express the joy of the Korean Lindy hop scene to NYC. This piece includes three performances: a creative choreographed performance including both Lindy hop and Vernacular Jazz, a couple showcase which is smooth but rhythmical, and a group partnered dance which is inspired by Whitey’s Lindy Hopper’s big apple performance. These 3 demonstrate how Korean dancers love to create a new style of the dance as a part of the evolution of the Lindy hop.

Team AJC is a Lindy Hop dance troupe led by Andy Seo who is a Lindy Hop and vernacular jazz dancer, teacher, choreographer and performer based in Seoul, Korea. With dynamic, groovy, and full of character, Andy is one of the emerging artists in the swing dance world. Team AJC loves to create an authentic and new style at the same time, inspired by old-timers from the Lindy hop and great dancers from different dance genres.

▲ BATTERY DANCE

Battery Dance created its outdoor festival in 1982, engaging with its home community of lower Manhattan where it has been based since its founding in 1976. As one of America’s leading cultural ambassadors, 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 with programs in 70 countries to date. www.batterydance.org

 
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