By Mabel Pais

56 Performances, 32 Premieres, 14 Countries

AUG 12-20, 2021

FILM: “FALL BACK” by Abhilash Ningappa – AUG 14

DANCES: INDIA INDEPENDENCE DAY PERFORMANCES – AUG 15

“SHIVA PANCHAKSHARA STOTRAM” by RAMYA DURVASULA

“THE UNDERGROUND” by ROHAN BHARGAVA

“Dancing in the open air, with the river and sky in the background, is always a blissful Battery Dance Festival experience,” said Jonathan Hollander, President and Artistic Director, Battery Dance. “This year, it will be even more exhilarating as people come out of isolation to witness the entrancing performances at Wagner Park. Before the action starts on stage, three nights of truly riveting dance films from many corners of the globe will be screened. Creativity was running high during the pandemic, and we have harvested a heady mix from voguing on a mountaintop in Lebanon to swing dancing in South Korea; commedia dell’arte in Mexico to birdlike flocking in the Netherlands.”

 Battery Dance with Battery Park City Authority celebrates the 40th Anniversary of its free summer festival from August 12-20, 2021.

The 40th Annual Battery Dance Festival features 16 international dance films from August 12-14 at 7pm ET via YouTube. 40 in-person and live-streamed performances will be staged at Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park, New York City, from August 15-20 at 7pm ET. In total, 32 premieres by 53 dance companies are offered to international audiences, promoting Battery Dance’s mission of connecting the world through dance. To register for live performances or to view virtually, visit batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival

INTERNATIONAL DANCE FILM FESTIVAL (ONLINE ONLY) – 7 PM ET

August 12, 2021

“We Arnhem, Chapter II,” – Introdans, Jurriën Schobben & Alberto Villanueva Rodríguez (The Netherlands)

“Uninhabited Island,” Dance Troupe Braveman (South Korea) – World Broadcast Premiere

“MI blanco, MI Negro,” Chilaquiles Rojos Colectivo, Vladimir Campoy (Mexico) – World Broadcast Premiere

“A Moment – Wakati,” Nantea Dance Company (Tanzania) – World Broadcast Premiere

 “Los Perros del Barrio Colosal,” Boca Tuya, Omar Román De Jesús (Puerto Rico/NYC)

August 13, 2021

“As Part of Lindy Hop Evolution,” Team AJC, Andy Seo (South Korea) – World Broadcast Premiere

“WalkINN,” Jiva Velázquez (Paraguay) – World Broadcast Premiere

“Downriver,” Bollwerkfilm (Switzerland)

“Our Stories,” Arabesque Dance Vietnam (Vietnam)

“The Circadian Cycle,” Australian Dance Theatre (Australia)

August 14, 2021

“The Bait,” Chenglong Tang (China)

“Free Pita & Nilydna,” Jill Crovisier (Luxembourg)

“Fall Back,” Abhilash Ningappa (India) – World Broadcast Premiere

“Groundworks Alcatraz” (excerpts), Dancing Earth Creations (United States) – World Broadcast Premiere

“Goat & Al Jurd,” Hoedy Saad (Lebanon) – World Broadcast Premiere

“Näss (People)” Excerpt, Massala Company, Fouad Boussouf (France) – World Broadcast Premiere

IN-PERSON AND LIVE-STREAMED FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES – 7PM ET

August 15, 2021 – India Independence Day

“Kathak”: Parul Shah Dance Company, featuring Parul Shah, Mohip Joarder with guest artist, Jin Won – “Yugal”, a duet choreographed by Kumudini Lakhia, and a world premiere choreographed by Parul Shah

“Bharatanatyam”: Kasi Aysola & SaiSantosh Radhakrishnan, “Water”, originally created as a solo by Kasi Aysolo and now premiered in its duet form

“Kuchipudi”: “Ananda Tandavam”, a solo adapted from choreography by Vempati Chinna Satyam in which Swathi Gundapuneedi-Atluri personifies both the male and female characters of Shiva and Parvathi in dialogue

“Bharatanatyam”: Choreographer Maya Kulkarni presents two world premieres featuring Mesma Belsare, Aishwarya Medhav and Aishwarya Sriram

“Musical Interludes”: Eventually Epic, musicians Sachin Premasuthan and Debarun Bhattacharjya perform original and song covers in Hindi and Tamil

“Sutradhar” (Narrator): Rajika Puri

August 16, 2021 – Young Voices in Dance, Tadej Brdnik, Artistic Advisor

“The Stoic Bridge,” Kate Louissaint & Nhyira Asante – World Premiere

ニ時二分 (2:02), Imani Gaudin

“Repentino,” Spencer Everett & Isabella Aldridge – NYC Premiere

“This is 22!,” Brian Golden – World Premiere

“Shiva Panchakshara Stotram,” Ramya Durvasula – World Premiere

“Mine, Yours, Ours,” Lily Summer Gee

“Garden Tongues,” Grace Yi-Li Tong

“Untitled,” Kanyok Arts Initiative, World Premiere

August 17, 2021

“A Little Old, A Little New,” Luke Hickey

“Warsaw,” Graciano Dance Projects – World Premiere

“Voila Viola,” Company | E – NYC Premiere

“John 4:20,” Baye & Asa

“The Underground,” Rohan Bhargava/Rovaco Dance Company

“Solstice,” Jon Lehrer Dance Company

“Observatory,” Battery Dance (2014)

August 18, 2021

“Od:yssey,” Dancing Wheels – NYC Premiere

“Donor,” Will Ervin – Erv Works Dance – World Premiere

“Radio Days,” Demi Remick & Dancers – World Premiere

“On the Waterfront,” MorDance

“The Liminal Year,” Battery Dance – World Premiere

“Honky Tonk Angels,” William Byram – NYC Premiere

August 19, 2021

“Virtuoso,” CHR Project – NYC Premiere

“Deliver Us,” Christian Warner

“846 (Rite of Spring),” Jamal Jackson Dance Company – World Premiere

“Rondo & Size of the Sky,” New York Theatre Ballet

“Full Stop. Start Again.” Akira Uchida, Maddy Wright, Joshua Strmic – World Premiere

“The Prayer of Daphnis,” Christopher Williams – NYC Premiere

“It will happen again tonight,” Dolly Sfeir

“Ode to Yma,” Battery Dance, Razvan Stoian & Jillian Linkowski

August 20, 2021

“Alegrías,” Flamenco Vivo II

“Maps,” Ohiole Dibua – World Premiere

“Michoacán Suite,” Ballet Nepantla

“Flower,” Stasis – World Premiere

“Flexn,” a street style from Brooklyn

“Cuesta Abajo,” Galletto y Guzmán – World Premiere

“Yemaya: Rebirthing to Existence,” Beatrice Capote

“Untitled,” Battery Dance – World Premiere

For more information, visit batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival

BATTERY DANCE

BATTERY DANCE exists to create lasting social impact by increasing human understanding through the universal expression of dance. Founded by Jonathan Hollander in 1976, Battery Dance created its outdoor summer festival six years later with the goal of introducing dance of all genres, free to the public, in its lower Manhattan home base. Battery Dance is committed to enhancing the cultural vibrancy of New York City, making the Arts accessible to New York City public school students, extending dance programming throughout the U.S., and building bridges worldwide through international cultural exchange with programs in 70 countries to date. To learn more, visit batterydance.org

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)