Friday's opening shots

Ahead of the Dance Parade and DanceFest taking place tomorrow (rain or shine!), someone decided to show his/her enthusiasm by knocking over all the barricades that the NYPD put up along the route on Avenue A ... thanks to EVG reader Joe for these photos. 

And read more about the parade here ... and here.

What you need to know about the 17th edition of the Dance Parade, happening on May 20

Organizers of the annual Dance Parade, one of the more (most?) festive East Village events of the year, released details about the 2023 edition happening on Saturday, May 20.

This year's grand marshals, Ronald K. Brown, Natasha Diggs and Elizbeth Streb, will kick off the event at 11:45 a.m. from a new starting location — 17th Street and Sixth Avenue (it was on Broadway and 20th last year). 

And more details via the EVG inbox:

At this year's parade and festival, Dance Parade will celebrate its 17th year under the theme "Beyond the Zone" with 10,000 dancers from 160+ dance organizations who will present over 100 unique styles of dance down Avenue of Americas, parade across West 8th Street, perform before the Grand Stand at St. Mark's Place before reaching Tompkins Square Park [for DanceFest]. 

If you want to dance in the parade or get involved and volunteer with Dance Parade, please register here.

You can relive part of last year's Dance Parade and DanceFest at this EVG link.

Watching the Dance Parade and DanceFest

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The Dance Parade was back on NYC streets yesterday afternoon... as more than a billed 10,000 dancers took part in the 16th iteration of the festival that includes the DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was along the parade route on St. Mark's Place and in Tompkins Square Park... and shared these images that show the color and pagentry of the more than 130 participating groups of dancers...

Given the energy and enthusiasm, it was often hard to tell that the heat index was in the high 90s...

Dancers in the Park

Hundreds of dancers took part in the DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon at the conclusion of the 13th annual Dance Parade... EVG contributor Stacie Joy was there to capture some of the participants...