Spanish Harlem Dance Festival is a dance festival that celebrates and examines the influence of Latinos in America as a place of immigration and mixed cultures; while seeking to showcase dance artists who explore a range of narratives of Latino culture and/or current issues: immigration, forced displacement, identity, and transculturation. Devoted to the multicultural nature of New York City, the festival boldly responds to the blurring of cultures from different diasporas. Featuring dance artists with hybrid choreographic practices (combining dance movements with other forms/styles, including physical-theater, mime, video or incorporating performative methods on stage). Dance10 Project, also, intends to provide opportunities for positive exposure and career advancement in dance making to underrepresented, emerging artists, especially Latinos, dance artists of color and LGBTQ members. The Fest wants to expand the creative force around contemporary dance by increasing the audience's knowledge; bringing cultural enrichment to those communities through dance-theatrical performances and set a platform for dance in East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem or El Barrio; which is one of the largest predominantly Hispanic communities in NYC. Also, the festival is a way of showing that dance as a social activity can entertain, educate, and connect communities, and dance as diplomacy tool can bring people together and combating racial stereotypes. We want to make a difference and make it palpable; then The Fest will host two components:

​

The Fest will host two components:

​

The Fest: Live dance performances on stage that tell stories about immigration and cultures. The work of immigrant dance artists can help immigrant audiences connect with their identities and restore pride in their communities. 6 dance pieces. Sep. 27 - Oct 01, 2023 (7pm). 

​

Choreographers Talk: Post show conversations will bring to audience members an open conversations with dance creators and their experiences, their inspirations, their process; and it would be moderated by local personalities.

​​

​

The festival is headed by:

Artistic Director & Choreographer Elliott Ortiz.

Co-producers: Pilar Cordoba and John McGee, who be associate curators too.