Dance Parade New York is, once again, launching its popular, “Dare to Dance” challenge, inviting choreographers and dance groups to submit videos of newly created work for cash prizes, with winning submissions broadcast during the virtual Dance Parade on Saturday, May 22, 2021, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST.  The first place winner, selected by a five-person review committee receives $1,000, $500 for second place and $250 for third place.

 

The Dare to Dance challenge was launched last year when Dance Parade, an outdoor dance festival which brings together the dance community in New York annually, had to go virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Over 3,000 people logged onto Zoom and Facebook for a three-hour, virtual event with dance battles, dance lessons and social dance rooms.

 

Mona Freeman is chair of the curation committee at Dance Parade and said, “We want to create an opportunity which allows choreographers and dancers to stay connected to dance through virtual platforms while live performance on stages are suspended during the coronavirus pandemic.” She added, “We are curious to see how a year spent working in isolation using the new social media platforms like TikTok, IG and Zoom will influence the quality of work.”

 

According to Dance Parade New York, the Dare to Dance challenge is made for choreographers and dance groups to create digital work around the theme “Dance Brings Us Together.” Included in the rules are that three or more dancers must participate observing social distancing with only one submission per registrant.

 

Freeman observed last year there were lots of contemporary dance submissions. She is hoping for more diversity in dance as the main mission of Dance Parade is its inclusivity and a celebration of all forms of dance from contemporary to ethnic. Last year’s winner, Ntrinsik Movement with its Kindred Spirit entry creatively embodied the ideas of the “new normal” of social interaction, mask wearing, and working in different venues rather than staged work at a theater or performance space.

 

Greg Miller is executive director at Dance Parade New York and said, “What we show with Dance Parade is there is a deep-seated need to dance. It is a way to express and feel joy.”

 

The deadline for submitting work is Friday, May 7, at midnight, and entry is free. Work must be created on or after March 13, 2020 and videos must be uploaded to a public link on YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook or other online platform. For complete contest rules, and to submit an entry to the contest, go to Dance Parade‘s homepage.

 

To watch last year’s winning entry, Kindred Spirit, click here.