Dance Is Life kicks off the 2025 Season Opener at its beloved home—Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, where it all began four years ago and where Latin Hustle has thrived for over four decades.

On Thursday, June 19, we gather in honor of Juneteenth on the land of the Lenape people—later taken from Black landowners of Seneca Village to create Central Park. Yet, the vibrant roots of NYC culture endure. Join us as we celebrate and reclaim space for the Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities who shaped NYC’s public spaces through music and dance.

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 social dance legacy.

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HOSTED BY
Natasha Diggs
Abdiel

DJ
Natasha Diggs

WHEN
Thursday, June 19, 2025
5pm-Sundown

WHERE
Bethesda Fountain
Central Park, NYC

ACCESSIBILITY
Download the Central Park Access map to navigate the terrain and pathways of the park, and find accessible restrooms and transportation.