Dance Is Life ends season 6 of our annual summer series with Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 on September 28, 2026—we are so grateful for this partnership in providing this free public service to this free public space. Join Natasha Diggs and Abdiel for a night of disco and house music under the sun and stars!
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.
HOSTED BY
Natasha Diggs
Abdiel
DJ
Natasha Diggs
WHEN
Monday, September 28th, 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)