Dance/NYC today announced that tickets are on sale for NEW YORKERS FOR DANCE, the organization’s celebration in support of its work advancing equity and opportunity across the New York City dance field. The event will take place this year on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at 26 Bridge in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

This year, Dance/NYC is calling its broader community to the dance floor—artists, advocates, funders, policymakers, and neighbors—for an evening that celebrates dance as a powerful force for connection, cultural expression, and belonging, and an invitation to imagine a future where dance is valued as a common good. By bringing people together on the dance floor, NEW YORKERS FOR DANCE recognizes that gathering through movement is one of the ways community is built, culture is shared, and lasting support for dance grows. The evening reflects Dance/NYC’s vision of a stronger, more connected dance ecosystem where everyone has a place on the dance floor and everyone has a role in shaping the future of the field.

The night will feature a dance party with music by DJ Ali Coleman, an open bar and hors d’oeuvres, and pop-up installations by local artists and Dance/NYC grantees. All proceeds support Dance/NYC’s work investing directly in dance workers, expanding access to resources and professional development, and advocating for policies that strengthen the dance workforce.

Tickets start at $150 and are available at Dance.NYC/NYFD. There are three tiers available:

Mover ($150): One general admission ticket
Amplifier ($300): One general admission ticket, plus cover the cost of a community ticket for a dance worker
Champion ($500): One general admission ticket, plus cover the cost of two community tickets for dance workers

A limited number of community tickets will be available for dance workers and community partners for whom the ticket price is a barrier to attending. Details on how to express interest will be shared soon.

“NEW YORKERS FOR DANCE is a celebration, but it’s also how we invest in the dance workers and organizations that make this field move,” says Raquel Du Toit, Dance/NYC’s Executive Director. “We’re doing this because we believe in this field. One night of celebration can power a full year of work, but only if we build it together.”

Host Committee

Keena Blunschi and Elana Lane

Chris Pennington

Individuals interested in joining the Host Committee can do so online or contact the Dance/NYC team directly at SpecialEvents@Dance.NYC.

Organizations interested in sponsoring NEW YORKERS FOR DANCE can view the 2026 sponsorship brochure online.

Those unable to attend can still support Dance/NYC’s work by making a gift at Dance.NYC/NYFD. Every contribution helps build a New York City where dance can thrive, where arts workers are paid fairly, spaces are accessible, and communities across all five boroughs have room to create.

About Dance/NYC:

Dance/NYC champions the New York City metropolitan area dance sector by fostering a more just, equitable, and inclusive landscape where dance workers and organizations can thrive. Rooted in research, Dance/NYC engages in advocacy, regranting, and knowledge sharing to establish dance as a valued form of cultural expression and a common good. Through this work, Dance/NYC strengthens the ecosystem, expands access to resources, and supports the leadership of historically under-resourced communities across the field. Dance/NYC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. EIN: 46-0830780.

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