Some young women in Brooklyn are taking dance to a higher level — on stilts — celebrating Caribbean culture with the TropicalFete Cultural Resource Center.

"I think it's important for someone to take it in, actually in real life, because … then they get to be inquisitive, they get to say, 'Who are those people? Why are they doing this?'" Tropicalfete Instructor Caitlyn Pierre said. "They learn the cultural aspect behind it."

They will present one of the 100 unique styles of dance on display at the 13th New York City Dance Parade on Saturday. Founder and Director Greg Miller said it started in 2007 as part of the protest against the city's since-repealed cabaret laws, which banned dancing in eating and drinking establishments that didn't have special licenses.

"The judge actually said that social dancing wasn't considered expressive enough to be protected by the First Amendment," Miller recalled. "So, you know, we were like, 'What? Dancing not expressive?' So our mission became: trying to present as many unique dance forms as possible."

And that's exactly what the parade will do Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

The Route

  • Starts at Broadway and 21st Street in Manhattan
  • Travels south to 8th Street
  • Heads east past the Grandstand at Astor Plaza
  • Winds up at Tompkins Square Park in the East Village.

Miller says they are always looking for forms of dance they may have missed in previous years.     

"We are really excited to have contemporary ballet, hip-hop, all the world cultures," Miller said. "It's a United Nations of dance."

The fun does not end when the parade reaches Tompkins Square Park; a Dance Fest will ensue on five stages from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and include free dance lessons.

"Everything from tap to Caribbean to salsa — yeah, it's going to be really fun," Miller said. "And a dance party, of course. Can't have a dance event without a dance party."

And quite a party it will be, with a group of flamenco dancers, from the company of dancer and choreographer Xianix Barrera, also participating.

"We will have the first flamenco float in the Dance Parade so all of New York City can see and hear and experience flamenco," Barrera said. "It's going to be really fun, we are really excited."

To find out more about the big parade, head to danceparade.org. And, of course, don't forget your dancing shoes.

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