The streets of Manhattan pulsed with rhythm and color on Saturday, May 17th, as Dance Parade NYC 2025 brought together thousands of dancers in a breathtaking celebration of cultural expression, movement, and joy. Now in its 19th year, the annual parade marched from 17th Street and Sixth Avenue to Tompkins Square Park—transforming the city into a massive outdoor dance floor.
Over 100 unique styles were showcased, from Afro-Caribbean and hip-hop to classical ballet, Bolivian folklore, samba, swing, bellydance, and butoh. The event proved once again that dance is more than performance—it’s a form of resistance, storytelling, and connection.
Kaleidoscope Folk Dance Club brought Eastern European tradition to life with beautifully embroidered costumes and synchronized choreography that honored generations of cultural legacy. Meanwhile, 10tecomai Yosakoi Dance Project infused the route with high-energy Japanese festival dance, complete with naruko clappers and explosive joy.
Latin American groups like San Simon Sucre NY, Tinkus San Simon, and FFC Morenada Bolivia USA dazzled with layered polleras, ornate masks, and synchronized footwork that honored Bolivia’s rich folkloric traditions. Their performances were equal parts heritage and spectacle, commanding the street with powerful beats and dazzling detail.
Also marching were groups like Darrell Thorne Studios, whose breathtaking costumes—featuring soaring headpieces, luminous wings, and drag artistry—blurred the line between fashion, fantasy, and performance. Forza Dance, Umami Playground, and Lei Pasifika added to the celebration with contemporary, K-pop fusion, and Polynesian dances respectively, each bringing their unique voices to the chorus of cultures.
Leading drums from Batalá New York, an all-womxn Afro-Brazilian samba reggae band, shook the pavement and called dancers to move with purpose and pride. Their thunderous rhythms energized the crowd and reminded everyone of dance’s deep roots in resistance and resilience.
The parade concluded in Tompkins Square Park, where the energy continued with performances, lessons, and a dance party that welcomed all to join in. Whether a seasoned performer or a first-time onlooker, everyone was swept into the shared pulse of joy that makes this event one of New York’s most beloved spring traditions.
Dance Parade NYC 2025 wasn’t just a show—it was a movement. One that celebrated cultural exchange, freedom of expression, and the belief that dance belongs to everyone.
