Dance Party: Latin Festival
A midtown tradition since 2014, Dance Party returns to Bryant Park this summer! Now entering into its tenth year, the beloved series offers park goers in-person dance events in a variety of styles throughout the first three weeks of May. Each of the six free programs of dance instruction, live music, and social dance are open to all to attend with no reservations or waiting list. Just walk up and join the party!
This year's Dance Party series showcases New York City's signature brand of Salsa and R&B with Uptown Royalty (5/1); hits from Disco’s golden era from The Disco Nights (5/2); Bachata Tradicional with Bachata sensation Judy Santos (5/8); Lindy Hop from award-winning vocalist and bandleader Charles Turner & Uptown Swing (5/9); a night of Motown-inspired dance music from KD Browne (5/15); and a four-hour closing night with Latin Festival, featuring four different dance genres – Charanga, Cuban Salsa, Cha Cha Cha, and Salsa Dura – with the help of two legendary Latin dance bands, La Charanga Pacha and Jimmy Bosch Salsa Masters (5/16).
6pm-6:30pm: Dance Instruction with Eddie Torres Jr. and Princess Serrano
6:45pm-8pm: Live Dance Music with La Charanga Pacha
8:00pm-8:30pm: Dance Instruction with Sekou McMiller and Marielys Molina
8:45pm-10pm: Live Dance Music with Jimmy Bosch Salsa Masters
Cuban percussionist Miguelito “Pacha” Pozo arrived to the United States in 1958 at the age of three. Pacha soon took up percussion, focusing on the timbales. At the age of thirteen, he competed in a Tito Puente contest and earned 2nd place; soon after, Pacha began playing with bassist Glen Vargas in the band La Contraria in New York City. In 1976, Pacha began to play with New Jersey band Orquesta Realidad, then teamed up with flute extraordinaire Jose Antonio Fajardo in 1980. Pacha recorded live and in the studio with Fajardo Y Sus Estrellas until Fajardo’s death in 2000. Pacha rejoined the band playing guiro in 2001 under the direction of Fajardo, Jr. Pacha has shared the stage with many greats in Latin music, including Tito Puente, Machito, Larry Harlow, Tipica ’73, Orquesta Broadway, and many more during his long career.
Ambassador of Salsa Dura Jimmy Bosch is loved and respected by Salseros the world over and highly regarded for his ability to entertain an audience and keep the dancers dancing. As a bandleader with decades of experience, Bosch can turn the heat up at just the right moments. He is a leader, a passionate trombone soloist, a lead singer, a composer, and a dancer. Recorded on over 100 productions as a solo artist in his 45 year career, Bosch has collaborated with such greats as Ray Barretto, Ruben Blades. Eddie Palmieri, Manny Oquendo y Libre, Cachao, FANIA Allstars, and many more. He has traveled the globe performing live Salsa for audiences in over 40 countries. Bosch has the dance bug in him all his life, taking dance classes with Eddie Torres, Yamulee, Adolfo Indanochea, and many other dance instructors globally. He has his own style, mixing the old school and modern techniques, using his experience as a musician to express himself on the dancers floor.
Complimentary bag check is availible at Dance Party events. Our friendly staff can help store your belongings near our Petanque courts, just north of the Shop + Info booth.
Attendees can enjoy cuisine from the five boroughs with a rotating line-up of artisanal vendors curated by Hester Street Fair.
Stout NYC also offers giant pretzels, gourmet popcorn and other light bites as well as a selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase.
Events are cancelled when it is unsafe to be outdoors, but may continue in light rain. Follow @bryantparknyc on Twitter and Instagram for day-of event updates.
Formerly “Peruvian Ballet Representative to the World,” Talía Castro-Pozo represented Peru in the most prestigious ballet competitions around the globe. Talía started dancing at the age of three, becoming the youngest soloist to join the National Ballet of Peru at age 14. After relocating to New York City to study at the prestigious School of American Ballet, she was able to expand her dance abilities by training in other forms of dance including, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Ballroom & Latin, among other styles. Talía graduated from the William Esper Studio, studied acting under Bill Esper, voice, and movement.
She is currently playing “Mona” for the Hulu limited mini series Fleishman Is in Trouble, where she is a recurring co-star alongside Jesse Eisenberg and Claire Danes. She has also choreographed for television, movies, and commercials, including the TV series The Godfather of Harlem. She starred in the movie Isn’t It Romantic as principal dancer, as well as Falling in Rhythm, Summer of Sam, and Tango Finish Off-Broadway, among others.
As a dance coach she has trained professional dancers in partner dancing including Broadway dancers for choreographer Christopher Gattelli. Talia has managed numerous iconic dance studios in NYC and has taught master classes at BDC, Lincoln Center, Columbia University, NYU to name a few. As spokesperson and guest artist, she has been featured on NBC’s The Today Show with Patrick Swayze, Tiki Barber, Marc Anthony, Pitbull, The New York Times, ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS, Univision, Telemundo, and celebrated as “The Woman of Salsa” by Latina Magazine. Talia is the face of hundreds of commercials and print campaigns in the U.S. and abroad, for companies such as: American Express, American Airlines, Discovery Channel, Expedia, Google, Yahoo, to name a few.
She is the producer of Latin Mondays at Taj, Sunset Salsa with Talia, Bryant Park Dance Party, and Midtown Dance. She is also a member of the International Dance Council, a Board Director of the Unspoken Smiles Foundation (which helps at-risk children develop healthy habits for life), and Board Member of Ballroom Basix USA, which provides school children physical, social, emotional, and cultural engagement through dance, serving more than 20,000 school children in over a hundred NYC schools.
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