SEEN – our eighth 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, was presented on Saturday evening, October 3rd, 2026.

We are proud to say that this year, Accent Dance NYC, a public charity, reached over 14,000 underserved students!

We’re also thrilled that acclaimed dancer and choreographer INGRID SILVA joined this year’s gala as both choreographer and guest speaker.

The evening featured Silva’s newly commissioned work through our NEXT Emerging Choreographer Commissioning Program as well as other performances by our multicultural dance company — this year performed in the Ailey Citigroup (black box) Theater — followed by a lively reception, including cocktails, live music, and an accessible dance party led by our teaching artists.

Silva, a principal dancer for nearly two decades with Dance Theater of Harlem, was the first Afro-Brazilian to be on the cover of Pointe Magazine and also appeared on the cover of Vogue Brasil. Silva also has pushed for change in the dance world, most visibly in her campaign to expand pointe shoe options for dancers of color, a cause that ultimately moved major manufacturings to expand their offerings. Her hand-painted pointe shoes are now in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

An exclusive first look at a new piece by acclaimed dancer and choreographer Ingrid Silva, who recently took her final bow after an extraordinary 18 years with Dance Theatre of Harlem, was presented September 10th, 2026 at Taylor Dance East. Her new work, commissioned through Accent Dance NYC’s NEXT program, got its first-ever showing in the studio, ahead of its full staged premiere at SEEN, Accent Dance NYC’s annual gala.

The evening also featured Rouged Lips, a Chinese classical dance piece adapted by Miaotian Sun, a previous awardee under the company’s NEXT program, Mar y Tierra by Pedro Ruiz, former Principal Dancer with Ballet Hispánico and renowned Cuban choreographer, and Patience, a contemporary/street dance work by Will A Ervin, Jr., another previous awardee under the company’s NEXT program.

Off stage, Silva has been a driving force for diversity in dance, work that speaks directly to Accent Dance NYC’s mission to champion historically underrepresented artists and communities through our professional and educational initiatives.

On April 17, 2026, Accent Dance NYC hosted a free multicultural community performance and interactive workshop at the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. The event featured professional performances of West African dance and drumming, Hip Hop dance, Tap, and Chinese/Tibetan folkloric dances, led by Accent Dance NYC’s team of multicultural artists. Audience members also had the opportunity to dance alongside the performers, trying out movements based on the styles, histories, and cultures of the performed works. It was a joyful, educational, and community-building experience for all!

This project was made possible in part through the Mid Atlantic Folk and Traditional Arts – Community Projects program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Two exhilarating evenings of dance (March 13 & 14, 2026) featured a vibrant blend of styles that reflect the rich cultural tapestry of New York City.

Echoes Between Us, blended Chinese traditional dance styles and contemporary dance; the American immigrant story was explored in A Place for Us by Danielle Diniz, blending ballet and theater jazz; and Will Ervin’s Narcissus, a bold reimagining of the classic myth, combined contemporary dance and street dance styles. The evening also featured a contemporary ballet work by well-known Cuban choreographer Pedro Ruiz and a dance and drumming segment by our West African dance ensemble.

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The Culture Revealed annual fundraiser was Saturday, November 8th.

More than a celebration—this impactful evening raised funds to continue our multicultural dance residencies and educational performances in some of the most underserved schools and communities in New York City and lower Westchester County. (Last fiscal year alone we reached over 10,000 students!) Funds raised also will allow us to cultivate, mentor, and support the next generation of choreographers through the NEXT program.

We presented an intimate first look at Echoes Between Us, a powerful new work by Miaotian Sun, commissioned through our NEXT: Emerging Choreographer Program, ahead of its 2026 world premiere.

Echoes Between Us blends ballet, contemporary dance, and Chinese folklore to create a powerful and provocative narrative about identity, culture and preserving tradition that resonates deeply through our collective experience, and is especially relevant today.

It centers around Sanxingdui, a mysterious, abandoned Bronze age archaeological site located in modern Sichuan, China – recently discovered to hold unique artifacts suggesting a distinct civilization and worldview.

Miaotian describes Echoes Between Us as follows:

“My piece highlights transformation, memory, and cultural imagination. It’s less about trying to ‘recreate’ history, but more about listening to the echo between that history and ourselves.”

Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A with Miaotian, delving deeper into the themes of her work.

In addition to Echoes Between Us, the program featured a lyrical duet from the ballet, So Proudly We Hail, by acclaimed Cuban choreographer Pedro Ruíz, along with other signature works by the company.

It was an unforgettable evening as we presented our first full-length program of dance, featuring over 22 exceptional artists across a vibrant spectrum of styles and genres. For the first time, audiences saw all our commissioned works together in one program, including Pedro Ruiz’s Danzón, a dynamic reinvention of Cuba’s beloved dance form with contemporary and ballet influences; Danielle Diniz’s A Place for Us, a heartfelt exploration of journeys and belonging; and William Ervin’s Narcissus, a bold reimagining of the classic myth. The evening also included a powerful African dance performance with live drumming paired with dynamic, contemporary movement.

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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