Dancing in the Streets' photostream

MISSION: Dancing in the Streets (Dancing) strives to illuminate the urban experience with free public performances and site-specific installations that examine the kinetic life and history of natural and architectural public spaces. Its productions explore the intersection of the arts and the city, strengthen community life through active engagement with the arts, diversify audiences, and serve as catalysts for the celebration of urban life.

HISTORY: Since Dancing was founded in 1984, it has commissioned, produced and presented more than 500 performances and installations by over 300 contemporary artists. It has garnered local, national and international praise for its large-scale performances and site-specific productions that have revitalized public spaces and helped break the barrier too often existing between art and the general public. Dancing was founded by Elise Bernhardt and has been under the leadership of Aviva Davidson since 1998.

PROGRAM INITIATIVES: Dancing produces an average of two–three projects a year, ranging from intimate, one-day performances to large-scale, site-specific productions. Its current signature series are: Hip Hop Generation Next – a block party in Red Hook that celebrates and explores hip hop dance as a significant urban art form that was spawned in New York City streets; and BREAKING GROUND – A Dance Charrette – site-specific dance commissioned for compelling historic sites in transition.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES: Founded in 1993, Dancing’s Red Hook Initiative serves residents of the Red Hook Houses—one of the largest public housing projects in the U.S.—and aims to engage residents with high-caliber dance performances, arts education residencies, and site-specific productions. Dancing’s Arts-in-Education program primarily benefits students in Red Hook’s public schools through intensive dance residencies taught by master teaching artists. In addition to teaching basic dance, choreography and critical thinking skills, the program creates opportunities for students to contribute, as dancers, to the cultural life of their community by performing for their families and neighbors in community-wide events.