BAAND Together Dance Festival: A Celebration of Diversity and Artistry at Lincoln Center
The fifth annual BAAND Together Dance Festival lit up Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater on a balmy summer evening, welcoming an eclectic mix of drag queens, angels, and prima ballerinas. A celebration of New York’s vibrant cultural scene, this year’s festival showcased a variety of stunning performances by five of the city’s premier dance companies. Running from July 29 to August 2, the event proved that when it comes to creativity, New York truly stands apart. Sponsored by Chanel, the festival highlighted the unique melting pot that is the big apple.
The evening began with a private cocktail event at Tatiana, the upscale restaurant helmed by chef Kwame Onwuachi. Attendees included dance luminaries, art patrons, and Chanel enthusiasts, creating an atmosphere ripe for networking and celebration. Notable figures like theatrical producer Sade Lythcott, art critic Antwaun Sargent, and photographer Tyler Mitchell mingled while enjoying playful jello shots. Ballet dancer Misty Copeland captured the spirit of the evening perfectly, expressing deep emotions about the festival’s mission to make dance accessible and inclusive. "What they’ve created represents everything that I stand for; everything I’ve fought for throughout my career has been about accessibility," she shared with W Magazine.
Once the performances commenced under the stunning chandelier, the audience was treated to a rich tapestry of dance styles ranging from jazzy routines to haunting duets. The Dance Theatre of Harlem kicked off the festival with a lively piece exploring American culture, set to music by Robert Garland. Following this, the New York City Ballet presented Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain (Pas de Deux), a poignant showcase of technical prowess and emotional depth.
The evening intensified with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s ethereal performance of Many Angels, choreographed by Lar Lubovitch. This mesmerizing piece drew inspiration from the theological questions posed by Saint Thomas Aquinas, transporting the audience into a realm of beauty and grace. American Ballet Theatre continued the journey with Susan Jaffe’s Midnight Pas de Deux, which resonated with poetry and elegance. The grand finale was delivered by Ballet Hispánico with House of Mad’moiselle. Under the choreographic brilliance of Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, this performance fused elements of contemporary Latin American society with the flamboyance of ball culture.
As the night unfolded, Misty Copeland reflected on the significance of inclusivity in dance, noting her experience since the age of 16 at Lincoln Center. "I never thought in my life I would see this demographic come into a restaurant like Tatiana’s with a Black chef like Kwame," she remarked. This personal journey made the evening all the more meaningful, emphasizing the ongoing evolution of not just dance, but the arts as a whole in New York City.
The BAAND Together Dance Festival encapsulates the passion, creativity, and diversity that is synonymous with New York. Each performance was not just a display of technical skill but a celebration of varied backgrounds and artistic expressions, making the event a true tribute to the spirit of community. As attendees celebrated the intersection of fashion, culture, and art, the night boldly affirmed that inclusivity is not just a dream but a reality increasingly taking shape on significant platforms like Lincoln Center.
For more information on the BAAND Together Dance Festival, visit Lincoln Center or check out some of the participating companies: Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Ballet Hispánico.
