12 Dance Performances to See This Summer—6 Are FREE
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It may be summer, but the NYC dance scene isn’t going on vacation. Over the next two months, you can catch legends such as Mark Morris, Pilobolus and Michelle Dorrance, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the second half of American Theatre Ballet’s summer season and an outdoor dance festival featuring five beloved homegrown troupes. And take note: six of our picks are FREE.
In terms of COVID-19 safety protocols, masks are optional and proof of vaccination is not required unless otherwise noted. While we are trying to keep this article up to date, be sure to double-check the protocols before purchasing tickets so you arrive prepared.
If you’re a TDF member, log in to your account daily to see what we’re selling as ticket inventory changes frequently.
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Manhattan West Plaza, enter at Ninth Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets in Midtown West
Runs on Wednesday evenings July 5-26. FREE. Admission is first come, first served.
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Pilobolus
The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street in Chelsea
Runs July 11-30
To conclude its Big Five-OH! tour celebrating a half century of innovation, this boldly inventive troupe returns to the Joyce for three weeks with a trio of programs that juxtapose early classics with fresh collaborations. For the new works, Pilobolus joins forces with an eclectic selection of artists: Darlene Kascak of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, composer Jad Abumrad, choreographer Madison Olandt, and former company dancers Derion Loman and Gaspard Louis. Note that some repertory contains nudity. Pick the family matinee on Saturday, July 22 if you’re looking for a G-rated lineup.
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Caleb Teicher and Veronica Swift
92NY, 1395 Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street on the Upper East Side
Runs July 13, also live-streaming.
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Ballet Hispánico: Buscando a Juan
The Robert Lehman Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street on the Upper East Side
Runs July 13-15
FREE with museum admission
One of two chances to see NYC’s premier Latine dance troupe Ballet Hispánico in July. First up: the world premiere of Buscando a Juan, a commissioned work choreographed by artistic director Eduardo Vilaro in response to the museum’s exhibition Juan de Pareja: Afro-Hispanic Painter. Multiculturalism, multiracialism, exoticization and the white gaze are some of the themes explored in this evocative piece, which is danced in the galleries alongside the art.
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Cynthia Berkshire: VEIL: Two Sisters
Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Chelsea
Runs July 14-15. If you’re a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase discount tickets.
Inspired by the Celtic concept of “thin places” where heaven and earth intersect as well as her own familial losses, Cynthia Berkshire’s new work is a multimedia tale of two sisters connecting beyond life and death. Video design by Shaun Irons and Lauren Petty and a supporting chorus of celestial spirits enhance this otherworldly experience.
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David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza at 63rd Street and Columbus Avenue in Lincoln Square
Runs July 20-22. If you’re a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase discount tickets.
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American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House, 30 Lincoln Center Plaza at 62nd Street
Runs through July 22
American Ballet Theatre wraps up its summer season with three beloved ballets: Giselle (July 3-8), Swan Lake (July 10-15) and Romeo and Juliet (July 18-22). There are multiple ensembles for each production; hardly any of the principal dancers repeat their roles, so check the cast listing carefully if you want to catch a specific star.
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Damrosch Park Bandshell at Lincoln Center, 62nd Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues in Lincoln Square
Runs July 25-29. FREE. General admission is first come, first served however, starting Monday, July 24 at noon, you can make free fast track reservations online, which give you priority.
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Runs July 26. FREE. Admission is first come, first served.
Central Park SummerStage, Rumsey Playfield, enter the park at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side
The boundaries of tap dance expand exponentially every time Michelle Dorrance and her invigorating ensemble take the stage. Works & Process partners with SummerStage for this FREE outdoor performance of 45th & 8th, which is danced to music conjured by powerhouse vocalist Aaron Marcellus.
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The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street in Chelsea
Runs August 1-12
A mainstay of the NYC dance scene for more than four decades, Mark Morris’ company has never performed at The Joyce, so this is a historic first. A broad range of Morris’ works are performed on two programs, including a world premiere set to Bach’s Partita No. 3 in A Minor, with most dances accompanied by the impeccable MMDG Music Ensemble.
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The Bessie Awards
Damrosch Park Bandshell at Lincoln Center, 62nd Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues in Lincoln Square
Runs August 4. FREE. General admission is first come, first served however, starting Monday, July 31 at noon, you can make free fast track reservations online, which give you priority.
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Rockefeller Park, enter at Murray Street and River Terrace in Battery Park City
Runs August 12-18. Also live-streaming. FREE. Admission is first come, first served.
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Top image: Legendary company Pilobolus returns to The Joyce Theater for a three-week run. Photo by Brigid Pierce.
Susan Reiter covers dance for TDF Stages.