THE JAMAICA DANCE FESTIVAL

Strong communities celebrate the arts in all its forms – including dance! For many years, southeast Queens was home to two prominent dance schools named for their founders – Bernice Johnson and Gloria Jackson. Many of the country’s leading dancemakers got their start at one of these important southeast Queens institutions. Launched in the Summer of 2016, The Jamaica Dance Festival pays tribute to the rich legacy of dance education in southeast Queens by presenting four Saturday evenings of professional dance on a 40’x32’ stage erected in downtown Jamaica’s Rufus King Park. The Jamaica Dance Festival is presented by A Better Jamaica and The Jamaica Arts Council.

A BETTER JAMAICA

Established in January 2007, A Better Jamaica, Inc. is a tax-exempt nonprofit community service organization that engages in activities designed to strengthen a set of southeast Queens, New York neighborhoods known collectively as Jamaica. A Better Jamaica has seventeen program initiatives: Family Movies in the Park; Jamaica311; Classic Film Fridays; Jamaica Reads; Jamaica Solutions; The Jamaica Ball; JAC’s Holiday Music; Jamaica Shoots; The AirTrain Jazz Festival; The Delightful Festival; ABJ’s CASA; The Carver Scholars Program; The Jamaica Dance Festival; SU-CASA; The Saint Albans Craft Walk; Art to the People; Morning Drum Circle; and Civic Duty. You can learn more about A Better Jamaica by visiting: http://www.abetterjamaica.org

THE JAMAICA ARTS COUNCIL

The Jamaica Arts Council (aka “JAC”) is an arts service effort dedicated to supporting the growth of the arts in Jamaica. Growth of the arts requires four things: 1) support of artists – both professional and amateur; 2) support of the institutions that educate and/or train artists; 3) support of arts presenters; and 4) support of the arts by those doing business locally. As such, the Jamaica Arts Council has four separate but complementary “sections”: 1) an arts alliance section; 2) an arts educator section; 3) an arts presenting section; and, 4) an arts and business council section.

ABOUT RUFUS KING AND RUFUS KING PARK

Rufus King (1755 - 1827) bought King Manor in 1805, intending to retire from politics after a distinguished career: American Revolution veteran, framer and signer of the United States Constitution, U.S. Senator, Ambassador to England, and vocal anti-slavery advocate. But having lost one of his best friends and closest political allies — Alexander Hamilton — the year before, Rufus was one of the last prominent members of the Federalist Party. Challenging times would compel him to return to politics into his seventies, continuing to passionately support the anti-slavery movement on the Senate floor until near the end of his life.  Despite his unconventional opposition to slavery in the early 19th century, Rufus led a conventional family life in Jamaica, Queens (then Long Island) with his wife Mary Alsop King, their five children, and hired help. They enlarged the house in 1810 and expanded the property to 150 acres. A devoted scholar of agricultural science, Rufus improved the land, turning it into a successful working farm.  After his death in 1827, Rufus’ eldest son John Alsop King (1788 - 1867) bought the house and farm from the estate. Like his father, John made his career in politics, serving in the New York State Assembly and the U.S. Congress. As Governor of New York from 1857 - 1859, John carried on his father’s legacy of anti-slavery advocacy and fought for the arrest of men who seized free black New Yorkers and sold them into slavery.  John’s daughter, Cornelia King (1824 - 1896), was the last family member to live at King Manor. After her death in 1896, the Village of Jamaica purchased the house and the remaining 11.5 acres which make up Rufus King Park today. King Manor opened as a museum in 1900. Today, King Manor Association of Long Island, Inc. operates King Manor as a historic house museum to preserve and interpret the home of Rufus King. The only historic house museum in Southeast Queens, King Manor engages its audiences through historic site tours, interactive exhibits, lectures, public programs, and school and community outreach. Collections management, preservation, and architectural, archaeological and historical research are continuous activities at the museum.

TODAY'S AJNA DANCE COMPANY PROGRAM

Bollywood Medley: 

O Rey Piya, Silsila Ye Chahat Ka, Dholida, Rangeelo Maro Dholna, Sauda Khara Khara, Sweety Tera Drama, Aankh Mare

New York Chinese Cultural Center

Founded in 1974, the New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC), a nonprofit cultural and educational institution, is dedicated to deepening the understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture through the arts in the global and local communities. NYCCC fulfills its mission by offering professional classes, workshops, and performances while nurturing creative and innovative new works through artist residency programs that reflect the rich cultural heritages and diverse communities of today.

Website: https://www.nychineseculturalcenter.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chinesedance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nychineseculturalcenter/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ChineseCulturalCtr

TODAY'S NEW YORK CITY CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER PROGRAM

CrossCurrent

“Crosscurrent” is a contemporary dance choreographed and performed by Yuxi Liu and Lulu Wang.

Music: "Alice enter" (Ólafur Arnalds) & "So close" (Ólafur Arnalds, Arnór Dan)

After Rain

A fusion of Chinese classical and contemporary dance choreographed and performed by Shuning Huang. 

"Like a dream, the moon; Like an elusive, enchanting flower."

Music by: Casta Diva - Linmao Mei

Costumes: qipao

I'll Be Seeing You

Choreographed by Keerati Jinakunwiphat and performed by Olivia Wang, this solo reflects one's journey to self-discovery. A farewell to one chapter by looking back on past experiences and bringing those lessons onto the next.

Music: "I'll Be Seeing You" - Billie Holiday

Limón2

Limón2 is dedicated to the development of fresh and inspiring professionals for a sustainable career and lasting contributions to the dance world and the Limón legacy.

Limón2 seeks to generate innovative programming and accessible community engagement, through free performances and engaging dance experiences for all humans.

In its second season, L2 brings together emerging talent, the iconic works of José Limón, along with today’s most exciting up and coming choreographers. The treasured spirit and humanistic legacy of José Limón lives on with Limón2! 

Website: https://www.limon.nyc/limon2

TODAY'S LIMÓN2 PROGRAM

The First The Last The Now

The Jamaica Dance Festival 2023

Past Upcoming Dates:

Presented by:

With the generous support of:

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