After a special program to celebrate the reopening of Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park, the free annual Battery Dance Festival moves to the North Esplanade of Rockefeller Park for a week of performances by a mix of local and international companies, performing outdoors near the sparkling water at sunset.
The lineup for the 44th edition features multiple U.S. or world premieres, and the participating artists include visitors from the Netherlands, India, Bangladesh, Spain, South Korea and Germany, Taiwan, Romania and Indonesia. The slate includes an August 15 program that celebrates five dance traditions of the southwestern Indian state Kerala: Kalaripayattu, Kutiyattam, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam and Theyyam. All six shows are general admission, and there's a rain date on Sunday, August 17.
Below is a full schedule of the artists and companies that will be performing. Visit the festival's website for additional details.
Pallavi Krishnan | Photograph: Courtesy of the artist
Tuesday, August 12:
John Manzari & Band, excerpts from Recenter
Pace University Dancing to Connect
Battery Dance, Sense of Belonging
Faizah Grootens, While You’re Here
Bulareyaung Dance Company, Colors
Wednesday, August 13:
UNARTE, Verso Roto
Theater Plauen - Zwickau Ballet Ensemble, Eden
Bulareyaung Dance Company, Colors
Faizah Grootens, While You’re Here
Platforma 13, Balkan Ballerinas
Platforma 13: Balkan Ballerinas | Photograph: Courtesy Marko Pejovic
Thursday, August 14:
Kar' mel Small, La Manta de Reina
Theater Plauen - Zwickau Ballet Ensemble, Eden
Platforma 13, Balkan Ballerinas
UNARTE, Verso Roto
Buglisi Dance Theatre, Sospiri
Battery Dance, Empty Hand
Friday, August 15 (India Day—Dances of Kerala):
Pallavi Krishnan with Jayasree Nair and Annie Sajayan (Mohiniyattam)
Surjith Panikkar (Theyyam)
Pradeesh K. Thiruthiya (Theyyam)
Raam Kumar (Kalaripayattu)
Sooraj Irinjakaluda (Kutiyattam)
Kerala Kalamandalam with Thulasi Kumar and Adyattingal Harinarayanan (Kathakali)
Saturday, August 16:
Mofassal Al Alif, In Search of You
Ô’tänamos, Aeternus Viator
Battery Dance, Sense of Belonging
Wan Dance, Mak Long
Dorchel Haqq, Swallow
Al-Dal'ouna Dabka Team, Dal'ouna Events
Faizah Grootens: While You're Here | Photograph: Courtesy Sjoerd Derine