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Dancing in the Street

Dance Parade New York is a non-profit organization that uniquely celebrates diversity of dance. The event presents many forms of dance and cultures from around the world. The organization will host this year’s annual parade and festival on Saturday, May 21st in Manhattan.  The Bronx Journal’s reporter Trent Love interviewed Dance Parade’s executive director Greg Miller and creative director Brian Austin about the event.

What is Dance Parade?

Miller: Dance Parade New York is the world’s only parade to exclusively celebrate and showcase the diversity of dance.

Where is the 5th Annual Parade and Dance Festival?

Austin: The parade (route) starts at 1p.m. on Broadway and 21st Street, heading down through Union Square, cutting East on 8th Street and Saint Marks through Manhattan’s East Village ending in Tompkins Square Park. Post-Parade DanceFest starts at 3 p.m. in (the) park.

How did it all begin?

Miller: Back in 2006, I was organizing a dance event and learned of The Cabaret Law, which originated in 1926 . The law requires a Cabaret License for any establishment where more than four people are dancing and alcohol is served.  The law makes it difficult to find affordable options for dancing so we appealed the law.  Judge Michael Stallman of the New York Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that dance could not be differentiated from aerobics and therefore was not considered an expressive form of art. I enlisted civil rights attorney Norman Siegel, former head of the New York Civil Liberties Union, to obtain a parade permit – the world’s first exclusive dance parade was born.

What makes the parade unique?

Austin: The idea of dancing in the streets of New York expressing yourself – all because of a common belief, goal, and love for dance. I’m in!

Miller: We seek to educate folks about the experience of dance—there are great health and cultural aspects that enrich people’s lives.

Austin: Think of it as the unification of cultures, lifestyles, different age groups, young and old, from all over the world expressing themselves to the sound of music through the art form called dance.

Tell us about the dancers and anticipated audience?

Miller: You will see everything ranging from ballet to salsa to swing dancers, breakers to roller dancers–even stilt dancers and hoolahoop dancers! Tens of thousands of dancers and spectators …increases each year. It’s family-friendly, something for everyone.

So about salsa, that is very popular here in the Bronx. How does the parade affect the Bronx and other boroughs?

Miller: I love salsa. I was surprised to learn that salsa actually was birthed in the Bronx and Queens when Cubans emigrated to New York and brought their mambo beats with them.

Austin: We have groups coming from all over the five boroughs, New Jersey, Chicago and even further.

Miller: We’re developing a “Parade to School” program where schools can have cultural showcases of groups from the parade.

I know that there are a lot of large groups out there — like salsa.  What should they do if they want to be on a float?

Miller: We’d love to have more colorful floats.  One of the parade’s challenges is that groups are used to performing on stage. Learning to dance in the street is part of the fun, but floats are available to anyone. Sponsors can support dance groups…

We have packages, scholarships and options for groups on danceparade.org.

Who are some of the most prominent dance companies that participated in this annual event?

Miller: We provide a world stage for professional, emerging and cultural dance groups. New York favorites: Martha Graham, Dance New Amsterdam, Dance Manhattan and the Joffrey Ballet.

What about other celebrities and Grand Marshals?

Austin: American Dance Festival Director and visionary Charles  Reinhart, Billy Elliot from Billy Elliot the Musical, and hip-hop’s popn-lock legend Pop Master Fabel (Jorge Pabon).

What if (someone) wants to sponsor the event? What can (one) do?

Miller: As a non-profit, there are a lot of costs involved in producing this parade. We give our complete loyalty and gratitude to supporters, have a variety of sponsorship packages, and individual donors.  All details are available on danceparade.org.

What about the NYPD? Will they be giving tickets again?

Miller: Yes.  Our police brigade is one of the crowd pleasures. New York Dance police officers ticket bystanders for not dancing!  The summones is accompanied with a discounts for dance classes and services.

How do you engage the community all year round for a one-day event?

Austin: We have monthly meet and greats and socials…(we) offer programs and services to our participants through the year and  we’re constantly looking at developing more opportunities.

What new things are expected this year?

Miller: Joffrey Balleta 7-and-half-foot toad provides sound to circus dancers… a wedding celebration disco float…a  couple celebrating their wedding with their 100 guests, doing the chicken dance,  hustle — all of the dances you’d dance at a wedding reception. (There’s also) a 60×60 Festival with Aerial Rig…a KISS FM “Groove Area” In the park. More (are) signing up every day.

Dance Parade celebrates Cultural Diversity…Many Styles,Many Cultures, what is that about?

Miller: We believe everyone has an individual quality to show from how they move or where they’re from.  We unite under the umbrella of dance as an art form and showcase our uniqueness and differences.

Austin: Dance is a very powerful art so we use it for good. We have been going five years strong and we embody this belief, this art that it can teach, and join together communities.

Let’s talk about Japan…Dance is lifting spirits of all.  What is Dance Parade doing to raise awareness and spirits in Japan?

Miller: At our monthly social we honored the victims of the Japanese earthquake.  This was for me particularly moving because I used to live and work in Japan.  After a moment of silence, the Yosakoi Dance Project …offered a high-energy dance performance.  You’ll see them on stage at the DanceFest this year.

How are you using Social Media – Facebook, Four Square?

Austin: Follow and stay up-to-date on our Facebook fan page and on Twitter.  Share your dance videos to be featured on Dance Parade’s Youtube channel.  Check into DanceParadeNYC on Foursquare (we’re listed as a moving target) to share when you’re dancing or to post dance photos.

Can you please give us some contact information?

Miller: Visit danceparade.org and you’ll find all the contact information there.



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