ABOUT

MISSION

Since moving to the South Bronx in 2011, Dancing in the Streets is applying its 30-year legacy as a producer of innovative public performances to reclaim, revitalize, and promote natural, architectural, and cultural treasures of the Bronx; and contribute to the borough’s cultural renaissance through:

Free public performances of dance, interdisciplinary, and site-specific works that build bridges across generations, communities, and cultures.
Community and educational programs that deepen communal bonds, nurture emerging artists, and give voice to the strength, vitality, history, and aspirations of Bronx communities.

HISTORY

Founded in 1984, Dancing in the Streets has produced and presented over 500 FREE public performances by over 300 contemporary artists, including site-specific productions at spectacular urban sites by Meredith Monk, Ann Carlson, Douglas Dunn, Eiko & Koma, Joanna Haigood, Steve Koplowitz, Tere O’Connor, Elizabeth Streb, Reggie Wilson, and Yasuko Yakoshi.

In its early years, Dancing in the Streets fostered site-specific work as a public art form across New York City, the U.S. and overseas. Since 2001, Dancing has become an urban pioneer, producing dance performances in unknown sites throughout the NYC metropolitan area, including the massive Port Authority Grain Terminal in Red Hook, the Tobacco Warehouse in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fort Jay on Governors Island, Hangar B at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field, and the streets of the South Bronx.

COMMUNITIES

THE SOUTH BRONX: Since moving to the South Bronx in 2011, Dancing in the Streets has forged strategic partnerships with local organizations that have enabled us to develop long-term, sustainable initiatives—such as the South Bronx Culture Trail—that contribute to the cultural renaissance of the Bronx, and serve as catalysts for developing safe, vibrant, and economically sound communities that reflect and foster the borough’s distinct cultures and character.

In the context of these initiatives, Dancing in the Streets produces free, community-based public performances, site-specific productions, and festivals that embody the vibrant confluence of art, community and place that is the bedrock of the rich cultural life of the South Bronx. These events are developed through multi-tiered processes that integrate deep inquiry, artistic exploration, the nurturing of emerging artists, and community engagement.

RED HOOK, BROOKLYN: From 1993-2010, Dancing’s 18-year Red Hook Initiative served residents of the Red Hook Houses—one of the largest public housing projects in the country—with educational and community programs, youth festivals, and three large-scale community-based

site-specific productions. All of Dancing’s programs in Red Hook were produced in collaboration with Red Hook cultural, educational and community organizations.

Arthur Avilés in Paseo

Photo: Alan Watson

AWARDS

The Bronx Times One of the 25 Most Influential Women of the Bronx 2014 to Dancing in the Streets’ Executive and Artistic Director, Aviva Davidson

Bessie Award To choreographer Joanna Haigood for Paseo “for an outstanding production of a work stretching the boundaries of a traditional form."

Arts and Business Council Encore Award

Municipal Art Society Certificate of Merit

The Doris C. Freedman Award from the City of New York for "greatly enriching the public environment.

Brooklyn Borough President Proclaimation: June 9, 2007 "Hip Hop Generation Next Day."

Sarah Calderon (Executive Director, Casita Maria), Joanna Haigood (Choreographer, Paseo), and Aviva Davidson (Executive & Artistic Director, Dancing in the Streets) accepting a Bessie Award for Paseo. Photo: Paul Benney

PRESENTING PARTNERS 2001-2019

Dancing in the Streets many presenting partners include:

American Museum of Natural History, Apollo Theater, Asia Society, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Abrons Art Center, HarlemStage, SummerStage, Jacob's Pillow, Battery Park City Parks Conservancy, BAAD! (Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance)*, Bronx Pro Group*, Brooklyn Borough President, Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education*, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, CityParks Dance, City Parks Foundation’s Hook Productions, Dance Theater Etc., FIAF, 52 People for Progress*, Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, Good Shepherd/The Beacon, Japan Society, The Kitchen, Langston Hughes Community Library& Cultural Center / Queens Library, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Mark Morris Dance Group, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, The New York Public Library, Third Avenue BID* Openhousenewyork, Partnerships for Parks, Red Hook Community Justice Center, Red Hook Initiative, SoBRO*, Wave Hill*, Westchester Square BID*, World Financial Center Arts & Events

*Bronx Organization

Paseo

Photos: Alan Watson