NYC's 13th Annual Dance Parade: Everything You Need To Know

NEW YORK, NY — The 13th annual Dance Parade & Festival in New York City kicks off Saturday with more than 80 unique dance styles representing the world's — and the city's — cultural diversity.

The Dance Parade draws thousands of people to showcase the cultural diversity of dance. One attendee said in a Dance Parade preview video, "it's just a Smorgasburg of New York's finest. It's joy personified."

The first parade started in 2007 after a New York State Supreme Court case ruled in 2006 that social dance was not protected as a form of expression, according to the organizers. The controversy was a part of the revived enforcement in the 1990s of the Cabaret Law, which barred people from dancing in certain bars and nightclubs. That law was repealed by City Council in 2017.

Here's everything you need to know about Dance Parade this weekend:

When is it? The parade is Saturday, May 18 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. A festival will take place in Tompkins Square Park from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. between avenues A and B and Seventh and 10th streets.

Where is it? The parade begins at 21st Street and Broadway.

What is the route? From Broadway at 21st Street and south towards Union Square. Continue on University Place from Union Square to East Eighth Street. Eastbound on East Eighth Street through St. Mark's Place to Tompkins Square Park, where the parade concludes and the festival begins.

Will any streets be closed? Street closure is at NYPD's discretion, but below is a full list of the streets that will be impacted:

Locations:
22nd Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
21st Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
South Broadway between 23rd Street and 21st Street

Route:
Broadway between 21st Street and 17th Street
Union Square West between 17th Street and 14th Street
University Place between 14th Street and 8th Street
8th Street between University Place and 3rd Avenue
St. Mark’s Place between 3rd Avenue and Avenue A
Avenue A between St. Mark’s Place and 10th Street
Astor Place between 4th Avenue and 3rd Avenue

Dispersal:
Avenue A between 10th Street and 12th Street
10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B
7th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B

What's new this year? This year's these is the Movement of the People to highlight dance's role in health and culture. Per the organizers, it is a reminder that dance is the oldest art form. The parade pays homage to immigrants and indigenous cultures too.

What else? Grand Marshals are highlighted at the parade, cutting the ribbon to start the parade at 1 p.m. with 10,000 dancers. This year's Grand Marshals are Tony Award winners Bill T. Jones and Baayork Lee, Native American artist Louis Mofsie, and DJ Dara.

For more information, click here.