4th Annual Dance Parade New York

On May 22, 2010 the 4^th Annual Dance Parade New York took to the streets of New York, dancing down Broadway and brightening up almost every corner of Tompkins Square Park. I’ve been involved with the parade since it’s inception in 2006, but rather than dance in the parade this year (photos below), I lead the publicity team.

This meant that I actually got to watch the parade this year and can now finally attest to its uniqueness and beauty. We instituted a Grand Stand section this year and I watched the full parade from the stands after checking in press at the start of the parade. I was able to sit with a few press reporters and point out highlights of the parade. It was great fun, and I was happy to see an even larger spectator crowd turn out. We garnered a lot of great press this year. We were listed as “top picks” for weekend events in NY 1, New York Post, Village Voice and Time Out NY. We had a few highlight stories featuring a few of our amazing Grand Marshals: Ellenore Scott, finalist from season six of “So You Think You Can Dance;” Amy Marshal, founder of Amy Marshal Dance Company; media critic Elizabeth Zimmer; and international DJ phenomenon DJ Jellybean Benitez who produced and mixed hits for Madonna, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, among others.

PHOTO CREDIT: Joon Shin

This year Martha Graham’s artistic director caught the vision of the parade and therefore had performances on the stage during the post-parade Dance Fest in Tompkins Square Park by Martha Graham II and students from the Graham school danced in the parade.

the spirit of martha graham @ dance parade 2010 from Chauncey Dandridge on Vimeo.

Dance New Amsterdam’s choreographers Teri and Oliver Steele created a new work especially for the parade to Madonna’s “Revolver.” It was quite a beautiful spectacle to see 50 of their dancers fill the street dancing this wonderful work.

Dance Parade New York is a one-of-a-kind tribute to and celebration of dance. It’s a BIG event, pulled off by an amazing volunteer staff. We had 165 groups dance in the parade comprising of nearly 7,000 dancers. Additionally we had 34 performances on two stages in the park during the DanceFest. The Dance Parade is a dance spectacular that only happens once a year so keep it on your radar for May 2011.

(me, Kristin, Barb, Joon - PR/Marketing team leaders and the peeps I spent just about every day talking to)