Celebrate the “Worlds Borough” at the Queensboro Dance Festival’s summer tour. This month’s events are a continuation of summer-long programming celebrating diverse dance companies across Queens.
The free event series includes performances at Rufus King Park and Corona Plaza on Sunday, July 28, and at Gantry Plaza State Park on Tuesday, July 30.
The festival on July 28 begins with a performance series by five dance companies from 1-2 p.m. at Rufus King Park, located at 150-29 Jamaica Ave. in Jamaica. Audience members can experience an array of performances, including salsa from Cucala Dance Company, hip-hop from IMMA KAT and Argentinian folk from Silvana Brizuela Weigel. Monali Nandy Mazumdar and The Kingdom Dance Company will also take the stage.
That same day, the Queens Theatre will host an event lineup at Corona Plaza, located at 40-04 National St. in Corona, from 5-6:30 p.m. The featured dance troupes draw inspiration from the global south, including flamenco, hula and Mexican folk dancing. Participating dance troupes include Flamenco Latino, Gotham Dance Theater, Manhatitlan, Nā Pua Mai Ka Lani Nūioka, Neela Dance Academy and San Simon Sucre New York. Queens band La Cumbiamba eNeYé! will perform live music following the performances.
Following Sunday’s performances, residents can head to Gantry Plaza State Park, located at 4-44 47th Rd. in Hunters Point, from 5-6 p.m., on Tuesday, July 30. Tuesday’s lineup includes dances inspired by Chinese, Ecuadorian, Mexican and Argentinian cultures. Students from Dynasty Breaking NYC will also breakdance, followed by live music presented by Live at the Gantries, Kupferberg Center for the Arts. Participating dance companies include Taiwanese duo Chieh and Yoyo, Cucala Dance Company, DANCE FOR THE PEOPLE, Manhatitlan and Rosemarie Madrid Dance Company.
Launched in 2014, the Queensboro Dance Festival was created to provide easier artist access to Queens’ dance community and build an audience in underserved neighborhoods across the borough. Each summer, the festival tours throughout Queens’ local parks, plazas and streets to present professional Queens-based dance companies of diverse cultural backgrounds and styles. The festival offers over 20 free outdoor performances, classes and dance parties to the public. Dance companies also have access to free professional development programming and arts resources.
For more information, visit queensborodancefestival.org.
