About this Event
The Harlem Roots and Rhythm Urban Dance Festival for 2025 features exciting Harlem DANCE History with music, film, interviews , social dancing.... and a dance contest!
Harlem has a rich and unique History when it comes to the famous 20th century Harvest Moon Ball dance contest. These two special days we will examine this thru film and interviews from History Makers who performed Harlem's most famous dance of the Lindy Hop! This will include special guests Sonny Allen (Harvest Moon Ball Champion 1958) and Barbara Biillups (3rd Place Harvest Moon Ball Winner 1958). For the 21st century we will update this contest for Harlem with new genres of unique and cultural dance art forms!
Plan to be with us INSIDE at the Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park in the Cultural Center Rain or shine you are guaranteed a great time and experience with Harlem culture!
PROGRAM (Schedule subject to change)
SATURDAY --- September 20th
- 4:50pm - Doors Open
- 5pm -- Jazz/R&B Band - Patience Higgins & The Savoy 4
- 6:30pm - Harlem's Harvest Moon Ball History - Part 1
- 7pm - Dance Social : Motown Madness and Beyond!
- 9pm - Event ends
SUNDAY --- September 21st
- 4:45pm - Doors Open
- 5pm - Film: Harlem's Harvest Moon Ball Legacy - Part 2
- 5:30pm - Interview with Harvest Moon Ball Lindy Hop Legends: Sonny Allen and Barbara Billups
- 6pm - Harvest Moon Ball Dance Contest
- 7pm - Contest ends
- 7pm - Special Honoree Bernard Dove speaks
- 7:15pm - DJ'd Social Dance Begins
- 8pm - Winners announced
- 8:10pm - Social dance continues
- 9pm - Event ends
We look forward to seeing you on the dance floor and for the history and fun!
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DANCE CONTEST
Be a contestant!
Contact The Harlerm Swing Dance Society at 347 - 709 - 7022 or email [email protected] before September 8th.
Include a video and you will be notified by September 10th if you will be participating.
Categories
- Breaking
- Latin
- Lindy Hop
Dance Contest Rules and Regulations
- All couples will be judged within a 3 minute dance period.
- Open and acrobatic steps are welcome
You will be judged upon
- Costume
- Musicality
- Partnering (Latin, Lindy Hop )
- ?
- ?
Possibly 2 more items - you'll know by the 3rd!
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TRAVELING by CAR
By Car from the NYS Thruway: Take Major Deegan Expressway South; exit at the 155th Street Bridge, turn right & bear right off the bridge onto 155th Street, continue straight to Broadway, turn left, and continue to 145th Street, turn right and continue down the hill one block to the entrance of the park.
By Car from New Jersey: Take George Washington Bridge (lower level) to Henry Hudson Parkway South, bear left and exit at Riverside Drive, continue South on Riverside Drive to 145th Street, turn right to enter the park.
By Car from Long Island: Take Whitestone Bridge to Cross-Bronx Expressway, take Westside Highway exit, bear left to Riverside Drive exit, turn right off the exit, and continue straight to Riverside Drive to 145th Street. Turn right into the park for drop offs and pick ups only
FREE PARKING
Available on a first come, first served basis on the lower level of the park. There is an elevator or the jitney option for you to get on the street level of the venue and festivities
- FIRST - Stop by the reception booth at the 145th street entrance
- SECOND - Ask for a parking pass and the directions to the lower-level parking lot
- THIRD - Follow directions on the map
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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
BUS:
From Bronx - Cross-town BX19 directly into Riverbank State Park
From Manhattan - M11 Bus directly into Riverbank State Park
SUBWAY
The #1 train to 145th and Broadway – one block from park's main entrance on 145th Street and Riverside Drive. You can also take the BX19 bus down into the park
The A, B, C, D trains to 145th and St. Nicholas Avenue – walk west four blocks to the park's main entrance on 145th Street and Riverside Drive. OR take the BX 19 Bus from that point down into the park.
The #3 train to West 145th and Malcolm X Blvd./Lenox Avenue and then take the cross-town BX19 directly into Riverbank State Park.
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Most of the above is within this link https://parks.ny.gov/documents/parks/RiverbankDrivingandPublicTransitDirections.pdf
See QR Code below to scan directions
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INCLEMENT WEATHER
Please check The Harlem Swing Dance Society Facebook page for last minute changes, delays and /or possible postponement https://www.facebook.com/HarlemSwingDance/
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Riverbank State Park, 679 Riverside Drive, New York, United States
USD 0.00
