Festival FAQ

1. Where is the festival and how do I get there?
This year’s festival will feature live staged performances. All outdoor performances will be livestreamed for free. The outdoor performances will be held this year at Battery Park City Esplanade in Rockefeller Park in downtown Manhattan.
Address: 75 River Terrace. New York, NY 10280 (North Esplanade)
Get directions from your location here.

Subway directions: Take the 1/2/3 to Chambers Street and walk west on Chambers street until you hit the park. There will also be a free shuttle to the festival from the City Hall / Brooklyn Bridge station and others. More details to come!

If you are driving: We recommend reserving your Battery Dance Festival parking spot in advance with SpotHero, a parking reservation service that helps drivers find and book parking online. To find and reserve your spot today, visit the Battery Dance Festival SpotHero Parking Page or download the iPhone|Android app to book your spot from your phone. 

If you are coming from New Jersey: NY Waterway offers fast, frequent ferry service to Manhattan with free connecting shuttles in Midtown. The closest stop to the festival stage is the Brookfield Place Terminal. Kids also ride completely free! Click here for Routes & Schedule details.

2. Are pets allowed?
We love your pets, but they are not allowed in the park.

3. Is there seating? Can I bring a chair or blanket?
Chairs are not allowed, so we suggest bringing a blanket to sit on the sections of grass. A small number of non-reserved seats are available. But, come at least 20 minutes early to find space for you and your friends. Seating is limited!

4. How much are tickets?
The Battery Dance Festival is free and open to the public! 

5. Can I enter the Festival late?
Absolutely! There may not be any seats available, but you can come to the Festival anytime between 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Companies perform at specific times, so you can come just for one company or come to see them all.

6. What is the performance schedule?
You can find the full performance schedule here.

7. Will there be food / drink?
Battery Dance Festival has ice cold water for sale, but no food is offered. There are a number of food options in the area. 

8. Can I bring food?
Yes. The grassy lawn in front of the stage is a perfect place for a picnic and a show! 

9. Is the festival good for kids?
Yes. In fact, at the end of each evening’s program, we host “Everybody Dance Now!” where the audience learns a segment of the choreography that was just performed, and kids are welcome to join!

10. Can I photograph or videotape performances?
As long as you don’t use flash, go for it and be sure to share your images with the hashtag #BatteryDanceFestival

11. Is the festival handicapped accessible?
The Festival is wheelchair accessible and has ASL interpretation. For other accessibility needs, please reach out to us at least two weeks in advance of your planned visit. We are continuously working to make the Festival accessible to everyone!

12. I can’t make the Festival, is there anyway I can view it online?
Yes! All Festival performances will be live-streamed. Can’t watch it live? Don’t worry, you’ll be able to view the recorded performance for 10 days after the date of the performance. Check out the Festival website as the dates near to register for online access. 

13. What happens if it rains?
Fingers crossed that we’ll have another rain-free festival year! But if it does rain, Battery Dance will announce whether the performance will be canceled or not by 5pm. Announcements will be made on Battery Dance’s Facebook and Instagram feeds — so be sure to follow us if you plan on attending! If we need to reschedule performances, we’ll try and fit them in on subsequent days or on August 19th – our rain date. 

14. How can I perform at the Festival?
If you are a U.S. based company or dancer, you must apply by January 15 of the Festival year. Applications are evaluated by an independent curatorial panel. For more information, click here.

If you are an international company, please contact Amy Santos.

15. I’m a member of the press/media and would like to cover the Festival. What should I do?
Thank you for your interest in covering the Festival. We love hosting members of the press! Please contact Michelle Tabnick Communications by email or by phone at 646-765-4773 to coordinate.

16. Can I volunteer at the festival?
Yes! Send an email to Amy Santos for more information.

17. How can I support the Festival?
There are a number of ways to support this important free event! If you own a small business, you can purchase an advertisement in our digital playbill and gain access to the 12,000 audience members that attend. We also accept in-kind contributions of food and wine for our Festival receptions. 

If you are an individual that would like to donate, you can do so online, by calling us at 212-219-3910, or by mailing a check to our address at 380 Broadway, 5th Fl, New York, NY 10013. You will also have the opportunity to donate during the Festival, and you can also help support by buying merchandise at the Festival.

If you are a corporation or a foundation, we would love to have you join our growing list of Festival sponsors! Please contact Pia Catton.