By Lucy Komisar
May 17, 2026
New York City’s annual Dance Parade is a gorgeous testament to the colorful diversity and talent of its citizens, with 10,000 people marching and dancing down a route from Sixth Avenue and 17th Street to Tompkins Square Park in groups that largely display ethnic dances and costumes and the joyous talents of school kids. Yes, a lot of people do rock and pop dancing but they don’t have groups that march in parades! Here’s a day for people to show off their ethnic heritages.
My favorites were the stilt walkers, the leads of the parade, who always amaze me. I caught Rajon getting taped up by her mother. And then they march.
Of course in New York, there were many Latinos especially Mexicans.
And the line of dancers.
Then the Asians.
And Indians.
Of course there are the kids from schools and local dance groups.
The event starts at about 11:30 at 17th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues as the groups collect, and if you go there you can meet them and talk to them. At about 12pm at 17th and 6th some of the groups do dances for the press and onlookers. Then they start down Sixth. I would tell the organizers to move the groups faster, because you have to wait 5 minutes or so for each, so that the full parade takes about four hours.
Close to the 8th Street and 4th Avenue Grandstand (limited entrance) groups move up and each does a mini minute performance, then moves on to Tompkins Square Park 10th Street and Avenue A for stage performance and lessons.
A terrific event. Mayor Mamdani should have been there! (Does he dance?) Sure better than the rich people’s Met Gala which he wisely boycotted!
All photos by Lucy Komisar.
Dance Parade and @DanceParadeNYC.