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 Battery Pl. New York, NY 10280 (Battery Park City 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 shutle 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. Enter promo code “BATTERYDANCE” at checkout for an extra $5 off parking!

If you are coming from New Jersey: NY Waterway offers fast, frequent ferry service to Manhattan with Free connecting shuttles in Midtown. Kids also ride completely free! Click here for Routes & Schedule details.

The closing performance and reception will occur at the Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University
Address: 3 Spruce Street, New York, NY 10038
Get directions from your location here.

Subway directions: Take the 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall, the 2/3 to Park Place, or the R to City Hall.

If staged performances are not possible due to COVID restrictions, we may shift to a virtual only festival.

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. Benches, bleachers, and 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 outdoor days of the festival are free and open to the public. For the closing event, please reserve your ticket, which is $10. Tickets will be available starting in July. If you would like to attend the afterparty, you can purchase a VIP ticket for $75. 

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 for the outdoor portion. Companies perform at specific times, so you can come just for one company or come to see them all.

For the indoor closing performance, latecomers will be seated in-between pieces. Please be warned that seats that are open will be made available to the stand-by line 10 minutes before show start.  

6. What is the performance schedule?
The full performance schedule will be posted soon.

7. Will there be food / drink?
Battery Dance Festival has ice cold water for sale, but no food is offered. Before the show, there are a handful of food carts near the Festival. There are also a number of after performance dinner options in the area. Check back soon for a full list of partner restaurants

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! This year, the Festival will run as a hybrid model with staged and streamed performances. Check out the Festival website as the dates near to register for online access. 

13. I live outside New York City and am planning on coming to the city for the Festival. Do you have any recommendations regarding accommodations?
Definitely. Stay where the artists are staying at our exclusive hospitality sponsor, Holiday Inn Manhattan – Financial District. Book your stay online today for a 10% discount, or call (212) 791-2900!

14. 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 Twitter feeds — so be sure to follow us if you plan on attending! There are no rain-dates sadly, but we’ll try to reschedule that days performances on other Festival days.

17. How can I perform at the Festival?
If you are a U.S. based company or dancer, you must apply by January 6 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.

18. 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.

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

20. 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 a playbill advertisement and gain access to the 10,000 audience members that attend. We also accept in-kind contributions of food and wine for our closing reception.

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.