The Harlem Roots & Rhythm Urban Dance Fest - w/Harvest Moon Ball contest

DAY 2! 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 so rain or shine you are guaranteed a great time with Harlem culture!

PROGRAM - (Schedule subject to change)

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 Champs -

Sonny Allen and Barbara Billups

6pm - Harvest Moon Ball Contest

7pm - Special Honoree Bernard Dove speaks

7:15pm - DJ'd Social Dance Begins

8pm - Winner announced

9pm - Event ends

We look forward to seeing you on the dance floor!

___________________________________________________________

Be a contestant!

Dance Contest Rules - Coming soon to website www.theharlemswingdancesociety.org

https://www.theharlemswingdancesociety.org/harlem-roots-rhythm-urban-dance-fes-1-

-------------------------------------------

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

_______________________________________________

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.

____________

Most of the above is within this link https://parks.ny.gov/documents/parks/RiverbankDrivingandPublicTransitDirections.pdf

__________________________________________________

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