BAAND Together kicked off five nights with a splashy cocktail party last night.
There are about a million ways to spend a summer night in New York, but Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City is worth adding to the calendar. From July 28 through August 1, the BAAND Together Dance Festival returns for its sixth year, reuniting five of New York’s most iconic dance companies on one stage: Ballet Hispánico New York, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Behind it all is Chanel, one of the key sponsors of the festival. The brand’s relationship with dance is practically woven into its history. Gabrielle Chanel was famously drawn to the freedom of the body in motion, an interest that shaped her designs and led to collaborations with some of her time’s most influential choreographers. More than a century later, that same fascination with movement continues through the brand’s support of BAAND.
The festivities officially began yesterday evening with a cocktail at Tatiana’s, where photographer Tyler Mitchell, creator Nicky Campbell, ballerina Violetta Komyshan, curator Thelma Golden and more gathered before heading into opening night.
Photography Courtesy of: Rosalie O’Connor
Inside David H. Koch Theater, the festival is the ultimate celebration of live performance – and a rare one at that. It’s the only time all five companies share a single program, with each artistic director curating a piece that highlights the essence of their company. Expect everything from the breezy romance of American Ballet Theatre’s Zephyr to Dance Theatre of Harlem’s striking Passage of Being, where choreography, lighting and an original score by Oscar-nominated composer Ryan Lott turn the passage of time into something almost cinematic. Ballet Hispánico’s Trança (Braid) closes things out with a powerful meditation on identity and community inspired by the centuries-old practice of braiding.
The best part? Despite the caliber of talent on stage, a seat in the festival doesn’t have to be a splurge – unless you want it to, of course. Every ticket is Choose-What-You-Pay, starting at just $5, keeping it accessible no matter your budget. And for those who wish for more than the performance itself there are free daily dance workshops open to all ages and skill levels.
Five companies, one stage, five nights – you know where to be.
Photography Courtesy of: Getty Images
From left: Farrah Banzima and Isolde Brielmaier, Tyler Mitchell, Thelma Golden, Coco Baudelle, Violetta Komyshan, and Nicky Campbell.
