For the first time, Dance Is Life presents Gather Round: Let’s Dance DIL and Works & Process at Manhattan West Plaza—a stunning, modern public space surrounded by soaring architecture and the vibrant energy of the West Side. This new location offers a fresh stage for our signature celebration of Latin Hustle, street, and club dance culture, all set to the sounds that move New York.
Dance Is Life is a free, intergenerational, and communitarian dance party that celebrates the rich tradition of Latin Hustle being danced in the streets, parks, and clubs of NYC. Emerging in the early 1970s South Bronx and created predominantly by Puerto Rican and Black teenagers, Latin Hustle is a partner dance that defies traditional gender norms—welcoming any gender to lead, follow, or even swap roles—and honors its many LGBTQ+ innovators. While Latin Hustle remains at the heart of the gathering, Dance Is Life welcomes all street and club dance styles, igniting a vibrant space for cultural exchange, creativity, and self-expression. Open to all, it fosters human connection through shared joy, movement, and a deep respect for NYC’s dance legacy.
HOSTED BY
Natasha Diggs
Abdiel
DJs
Natasha Diggs
WHEN
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
5pm — 7:30PM
WHERE
Manhattan West Plaza
385 9th Avenue, New York, NY, 10001
Directions:
Closest Transit Options
Subway & Rail
34th Street–Penn Station / Moynihan Train Hall (served by A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 trains, plus LIRR, NJ Transit, and Amtrak) – ~5–7 minutes walk.
23rd Street Station (A, C, E trains) – about 5 minutes walk.
Bus
9th Avenue & West 34th Street stop – about 2 minutes walk. Bus lines: M11, SIM23, M34-SBS, among others.
Getting There From Major Hubs
From Penn Station / Moynihan Train Hall
Walk north-west along 33rd Street toward 9th Avenue.
At 9th Avenue, turn left (heading south toward 385).
Manhattan West Plaza will be on your right, just off the corner.
From 23rd Street Station (A, C, E)
Walk north along 9th Avenue from 23rd Street for about 5 minutes.
You'll reach between 31st and 33rd Streets—just enter the plaza.
From a Nearby Bus Stop
If your bus drops you off at 9th Ave/W 34th St, you’re only a 2-minute walk west to the plaza.
Buses like M11, SIM23, M34-SBS serve that stop.