Dance Is Life makes its debut at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 for another fabulous edition of “Hustle on the Hudson” on Monday, September 14th, hosted by Natasha Diggs and Abdiel.

Dance Is Life is an intergenerational dance party that honors the tradition of Latin Hustle being danced in the outdoor spaces of NYC, while welcoming other dance styles and igniting a diverse space for exchange and creativity. Latin Hustle is a partner dance that originated in the South Bronx in the early 1970s, created predominantly by Puerto Rican and Black teenagers. The dance defies traditional gender norms, allowing any gender to lead, follow, or even role swap, while celebrating its LGBTQ+ innovators.

This year, Dance Is Life expands to Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, a historic waterfront location with a legacy of arrival, movement, and cultural exchange. Originally built in 1924, Pier 84 welcomed Olympic athletes, foreign dignitaries, returning WWII soldiers, and tens of thousands of immigrants taking their first steps into a new country before continuing on to Ellis Island. Today, the pier offers an expansive open-air setting along the Hudson River, creating plenty of room for dance partners, roller skaters, and hula hoopers to spread out, connect, and fully express themselves.

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HOSTED BY
Natasha Diggs
Abdiel

DJ
Natasha Diggs

WHEN
Monday, September 14th, 2026
5pm-Sundown

WHERE
Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, NYC

ACCESSIBLITY
Download directions to Dance Is Life with information on accessible transit, parking, and public restrooms

 

Photos by Stephen McFadden (previous page), David D.G.Noble (this page)