Across four nights this October, Works & Process will present free pop-up performances by the MasterZ at Work Dance Family at Free Food Refettorio Harlem, New York City’s only free restaurant. The organization opens its doors to serve vulnerable neighbors, steward a healthier, more just food system, and celebrates the cultural heritage and diversity around us. A Works & Process commission, The 24/7 Diner by Black trans femme choreographer and ballroom Icon Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington envisions an all-night diner open to all. Blending street dance and theatrical storytelling, the work explores chosen family, resilience, and joy as acts of resistance, rooted in the spirit of ballroom culture. Like Refettorio Harlem, the work centers food as a source of both physical and metaphorical nourishment.

Works & Process at Free Food Refettorio Harlem
37 West 119th Street, New York, NY 10026
October 2, 7, 16, and 21, 2026
The event is open to all, free, and first-come, first-served.
https://www.worksandprocess.org/calendar/works-and-process-at-free-food-refettorio-harlem-masterz-at-work-dance-family

5:15–6:45 pm
A gourmet sit-down dinner, prepped and served with love by a dedicated team

5:45–6 pm
Performance by MasterZ at Work Dance Family with Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington: The 24/7 Diner

The 24/7 Diner was commissioned by Works & Process and made possible, in part, by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and Mellon Foundation. The 24/7 Diner was developed in Works & Process Residencies at Modern Accord Depot (2024), Bethany Arts Community (2025), and The Campus at Marlboro Music (2026).

These performances are supported by The Evelyn Sharp Foundation.