By Bill Parry
Silent Disco is coming back to the Long Island City waterfront Thursday, Sept. 3. Lincoln Center, which presented the program for the first time away from its Manhattan campus, organized the night of dancing under the stars at Hunters Point South Park last September.
“We had such a big success last year that we knew right away that we were coming back,” Lincoln Center spokeswoman Kate Merlino said. “The park was gorgeous, the views are amazing and the sight of 1,700 people dancing in silence was one you can’t forget.”
The program, called Lincoln Center Local, brings world-class productions and entertainment directly to communities citywide. During the summers it brings live events to the outer boroughs and in the winter it presents HD screenings of performances from Lincoln Center stages at libraries and community centers.
Silent Disco became a craze in Britain after appearing at the Glastonbury music festival in 2005. It has become increasingly popular at weddings and private events in the United States.
Three DJs spin different genres of music, including disco, salsa, top-40 and swing simultaneously that are heard through wireless headphones. The dancers choose which music they prefer, and colored lights on the headphones show which music the dancer is listening to.
The dance floor will be set up at the event space at LIC Landing by Coffeed and will open at 6 p.m. At 6:30 there will be dance lessons provided by one of the city’s top instructors.
City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) was instrumental in finding the site and launching Silent Disco in the borough last year, according to Lincoln Center.
“Once again I’m proud to support and help bring one of Lincoln Center’s most innovative programs here to Queens,” Van Bramer said. “Together we are bringing world-class productions and entertainment directly to the people of the borough. There’s no better way to enjoy your evening than to partake in the Silent Disco by dancing the night away with family and friends while enjoying sweeping views along the East River waterfront in Long Island City as the sun sets across the Manhattan skyline. It promises to be the place to be.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
