The inaugural Lincoln Center Contemporary Dance Festival
Our take
Our Take: The inaugural Lincoln Center Contemporary Dance Festival represents a pivotal moment for the intersection of artistry, accessibility, and community engagement in the performing arts. By anchoring its Summer for the City initiative with the launch of The Pasculano Collaborative for Contemporary Dance, Lincoln Center is not only showcasing international and New York-based talent but also redefining how dance can serve as a catalyst for personal and collective growth. This festival’s emphasis on wellness events and education initiatives mirrors the ethos of programs like Ultimate operational command center: Dance Teacher Web offers digital tools for dance educators, which highlights the evolving role of technology and pedagogy in nurturing creativity. Similarly, the Charlottesville Ballet unveils leadership transitions for new chapter underscores how organizational shifts can sustain artistic innovation, a theme echoed in Lincoln Center’s strategic programming. For those seeking inspiration, Battery Dance presents free performances in Wagner Park this Summer demonstrates how public spaces can become stages for transformative experiences, much like this festival’s mission to democratize access to contemporary dance.
The festival’s “Choose-What-You-Pay” model is a bold statement on inclusivity, reflecting a growing recognition that art should not be confined by economic barriers. This approach resonates deeply with the principles of body positivity and self-expression, as it invites diverse audiences to engage with movement without the pressure of financial commitment. For someone who finds empowerment in physical expression—whether through pole dancing, fitness routines, or dance—the festival’s focus on “feeling sexy while you are at it” translates into a celebration of the body as a vessel for storytelling and confidence. Wellness events, in particular, align with the idea that dance is not just an art form but a holistic practice that nurtures mental and physical well-being. These initiatives create a space where individuals can explore their identity, embrace their uniqueness, and connect with others through shared experiences of movement and creativity.
Beyond its immediate programming, the festival signals a shift toward collaborative and community-driven models in the arts. The Pasculano Collaborative’s emphasis on partnerships between artists, educators, and wellness professionals mirrors the interconnected nature of modern dance communities. It’s a reminder that artistic excellence thrives when it is rooted in accessibility and mutual support. For educators and
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) announces the launch of The Pasculano Collaborative for Contemporary Dance, which anchors this year’s Summer for the City, with a focus on movement, community, and artistry. The season features international and New York-based talent, numerous commissions, wellness events, and new education initiatives – all free or Choose-What-You-Pay.
The inaugural Lincoln Center Contemporary Dance Festival – a new, biannual festival that will be offered each summer and winter – establishes a consistent and ambitious home for contemporary dance at Lincoln Center.
Beginning June 18 in Alice Tully Hall, five international companies will offer cutting-edge works exploring different dance forms through themes of personal heritage and origin, identity and transformation, and the climate crisis. Two U.S. premieres and two New York premieres populate the Festival programs, by choreographers from the United Kingdom, South Korea, Belgium, Spain, and France. Educational offerings this summer will include pre-performance talks and professional dance workshops with Akram Khan Company and Sung Im Her, as well as the launch of a professional development cohort for early-career dance professionals to participate in behind-the-scenes learning during the Festival. The second iteration of the Festival, in January 2027, will present US-based companies.
Established from the largest single programming gift in LCPA‘s history, the Pasculano Collaborative for Contemporary Dance paves the way for the most dynamic and innovative contemporary dance from across the globe to join the cultural crossroads of Lincoln Center, honoring the distinguished legacy of dance on campus and investing in the next generation of dance artists.
Donald Borror began as Director of the Collaborative in December of last year and spearheads the biannual Contemporary Dance Festival alongside a variety of programmatic resources and collaborations to support dancers, choreographers, and companies in New York City and beyond.
Also this summer, a new weekly outdoor dance series on Hearst Plaza will run for eight weeks, beginning in June. This year’s Dance Encounters spotlights New York-based companies in intimate and dynamic performances that offer audiences the delight of up-close and personal experiences. The series features a wide variety of works commissioned or reimagined to be enjoyed al fresco, in conversation with the architecture of the Lincoln Center campus.
“Lincoln Center is uniquely positioned to draw on the creative power of a campus where contemporary dance has been part of the story from the very beginning,” said Shanta Thake, Ehrenkranz Chief Artistic Officer of LCPA. “As a global gathering place for the performing arts, we foster artistry where international voices meet New York legacy; where artists are supported not just to present work, but to create, develop, and sustain creativity that meets the moment today and engages in cultural dialogues across artistic and civic spaces.”
This summer also sees the return of the BAAND Together Dance Festival, made possible by CHANEL; a daylong celebration, Street Dance Takeover: Beats, Battles, and Breaking, featuring multigenerational artists like French choreographer Saido Lehlouh with Wild Cat; two new works at the David Rubenstein Atrium, The Ocean Keeps No Memory of the Lines by Christopher Núñez and Tamisha A. Guy’s In the Depths of Blue; the ever-popular social dance series across swing, Hip Hop, salsa, ballroom, and more; silent discosunder the stars, outdoors on Josie Robertson Plaza; and so much more!
A link to the online event calendar for all dance events can be found here.
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