Thank you for joining us for NEXT Steps – Our sixth anniversary gala to raise funds for our educational and concert dance initiatives empowering youth and audiences through access, equity, and the transformative power of the arts. This year, we celebrated what is coming NEXT for Accent Dance NYC and for the NEXT generation of creative leaders whom we are nurturing every day through our educational and professional initiatives.

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A Place for Us blends ballet, contemporary dance, and theatrical elements to tell the powerful story of three immigrants seeking a new life in America. Inspired by her family’s journey from Mexico and Portugal, choreographer Danielle Diniz offers a personal yet universally resonant portrayal of finding one’s place in a new land. This intimate first look at Accent Dance NYC’s most recent NEXT commission offers a unique opportunity to experience the work before its official premiere.

In addition to A Place for Us, the program featured a lyrical contemporary ballet duet, La Bella Cubana, by acclaimed Cuban choreographer Pedro Ruíz. Also, West African dance and drumming based on traditional dance and music from Guinea was showcased.

Attendees participated in a Q&A session with Diniz, delving deeper into the themes of the work and its connection to current issues of immigration and identity.

Accent Dance NYC participated in PERIDANCE PRESENTS: an evening of dance celebrating four choreographers at different stages of their careers and featuring various dance genres. Our commissioned choreographer Will A. Ervin Jr. was selected as one of the four choreographers to present his work Narcissus at the event.

Accent Dance NYC brought a free multicultural community performance and interactive workshop to the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. The event combined professional performances of West African dance and drumming, hip hop dance, and a newly commissioned work by emerging African American choreographer Will A. Ervin, Jr. The performance was followed by an accessible dance workshop, led by Accent Dance’s team of multicultural artists, drawing upon the dance styles, histories, and cultures of the performed works and providing a joyful, educational, and community-building experience for all.

Accent Dance NYC is proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government with the support of County Executive George Latimer.

On Saturday evening, November 4th, 2023, I AM/WE ARE – Our fifth anniversary gala, was held to raise funds for our educational and concert dance initiatives empowering youth and audiences through access, equity, and the transformative power of the arts.

This year, the programming explored the intersection between individual identity and collective action.

The evening’s centerpiece was excerpts from our latest commission, Narcissus, a work of artistic introspection from emerging dance maker, William Ervin, combining elements of street and contemporary dance. An evocative film of the work by celebrity photographer Mark Mann was also premiered. Ervin’s dance is the springboard for our educational programming on self-exploration and community engagement, encouraging students to explore who they are and how their individual identities mirror – and enrich – the larger community of their peers and beyond.

The festive evening of cocktails and dinner also featured our community partners sharing the stage with our professional ensemble in an array of multi-disciplinary works, and culminated in a high-energy dance battle of tap, hip hop, and other street dance styles.

An evening of dance and self-discovery, Narcissus and Other Dances, was presented Friday, September 8, 2023 at The Ailey Studios on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. This in-studio showing, featuring a captivating new work by commissioned choreographer William Ervin, delved into the intricate tapestry of identity, self-love, and the profound influence of our surroundings.

The heart of the evening lied Ervin’s multidisciplinary work of modern, contemporary, and street dance movement paired with other thought-provoking works by Accent Dance NYC artists that shared a common thread of self-exploration and expression. After the performance, a stimulating talk back session with dancemaker Maxwell Waterman delved deeper into the intersection of dance and identity, underscoring Accent Dance NYC’s mission to foster community, embrace individuality, and promote self-love through the powerful medium of dance.

We celebrated the accomplishments of the after-school students from our dance program, led by Accent Dance NYC’s multicultural team of teaching artists, in an end-of-school-year showcase. This free performance for family and friends at the New Rochelle Public Library gave students an opportunity to perform on a real-life stage! Students performed engaging works of hip hop and African dance as well as showed off their own choreography and other artistic talents. The performance featured students from both the Y’s main New Rochelle location and its Daniel Webster Elementary School location.

Accent Dance NYC celbrated our youth and community-building in a joyful end-of-school-year showcase at The Bronx High School of Science. This free-of-charge performance for the community, family, and friends featured our talented students from our various dance residency programs taking place in schools throughout the Bronx and lower Westchester.

Students ranging from elementary school-age through high school performed new works of contemporary, West African, hip hop, step dance, and more. The choreography students from the New Rochelle High School also performed a work they created during a recent Accent Dance residency in collaboration with our artists.

Saturday, November 12th, 2022 was the date of our annual gala fundraiser Let’s Dance! Activism Through Arts Education; with cocktails, dinner and live performances to help raise funds to bring our dance residencies and multicultural educational performances to more schools and to purchase a portable dance floor for our community performances. We exceeded our fundraising goals and the evening was a great success! If you’d like to donate, please visit the Support Us page.

We celebrated and stood in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in June (and continue to all year round)! Accent Dance NYC performed as part of the second annual Pelham Pride Party in lower Westchester County, on Friday, June 17.

Professional dancers Alonso Danza and Dardo Galletto performed a beautiful tango piece at the event, and community members were invited to share their experiences and relationship to the LGBTQ+ community. This free event was open to all.

Accent Dance NYC performed at Pelham Art Center’s spring evening gala “SHINE” at the Split Rock Golf Course, Bronx, New York. We also performed that same afternoon, as part of The Art Happening, an installment of Pelham Art Center’s free public program series.

Thanks to all who attended and supported our annual gala fundraiser at Pelham Picture House!

Missed the event? You can still help us continue our mission by using the donate button below to contribute now.

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September 12th’s free outdoor event to honor the 75th birthday of salsero legend Hector Lavoe featured Accent Dance NYC. We are proud to be involved in arts education and community outreach in The Bronx and excited that the Bronx Music Heritage Center chose us again for an event celebrating Hispanic Heritage month.

August 28th, 2021 was a great day at Pelham Art Center: Accent Dance NYC was part of a free outdoor community art day in the courtyard.