Meet all 25 Queens-based dance companies touring with us this summer! Click on a photo to learn more.
Silvana Brizuela Weigel
Representing: Jackson Heights
Performing: Argentine Folk
Mission: Sharing the essence of Argentine Culture through the traditional dances of Folklore, Tango & Fusion.
Photo credit Horacio Morales
DANCE FOR THE PEOPLE
Representing: Flushing
Performing: Chinese Contemporary
About: Using modern dance elements to present Chinese cultural elements we hope to expound converse dynamic elements such as “static in motion” to achieve the balance of Yin and Yang around this philosophical idea.
Photo credit Wudao Fengbao
Kinding Sindaw
Representing: Jackson Heights
Performing: Indigenous Southern Philippine dances
Artistic Director Potri Ranka Manis is a registered nurse and Maranao tradition-bearer from Mindanao, Philippines. She believes that in teaching and performing these dances, music and chants, communities will be inspired to take action in defending indigenous traditions and the land on which we live.
Photo credit Dillon Wright
Kalli Siamidou
Representing: Jamaica
Performing: Greek Zeibekiko
"I aim to honor, preserve and continue the cultural heritage from which it stems while infusing it with my own modern perspective. This Zeibekiko, with its profound emotional depth, serves as a bridge between the past and the present, Asia Minor and New York, fostering a dialogue that transcends cultural differences and unites us in the essence of simply being human. It is a dance of solitude, a solitary journey that echoes the highs and lows of life's unpredictable twists and turns.
Photo credit Jeong Park
Ricardo Osorio "El Niño"
Representing: Astoria
Performing: Flamenco
We like to work on personal experiences, life events that we have gone through, since our belief is that when you connect with all those true feelings on stage, others can remember who they are and how they feel. I always wonder: who would we be if we could truly be ourselves? I am hopeful that this production can raise awareness about emotional and mental health.
Photo credit Rodrigo Vazquez
Chieh & Yoyo
Representing: Elmhurst and Astoria
Performing: Taiwainese Contemporary
Chieh creates choreography through Yoyo’s violin movements while Yoyo dances and plays violin simultaneously. By combining western culture with Taiwanese culture, they hope to increase the visibility of their home country. QDF2024 will continue our fictional love story from the past.
Photo credit Pratya Jankong
The Kingdom Dance Company
Representing: Rosedale
Performing: Hip-hop
Our dances dream to move audiences with storytelling, fusing spoken word, music, singing & art to create cohesive performances that depict uplifting themes conquering rugged tribulations. We highlight and enrich the lives of artists from different socio-economic backgrounds and disability statuses with affordable training, instruction, and immersive workshops during training to recognize the individual & artist. Our goal is to create healing through art and art that heals.
Photo credit Josef Pinlac
Umami Playground
Representing: Long Island City
Performing: Street Styles
Umami Playground is a space for movers to play, explore, make mistakes, share, and grow together. We blend street and club dance with contemporary styles, combining them with our imagination and experience to create something unique.
Photo credit Sean Chee
Sheep Meadow Dance Theater
Representing: Long Island City
Performing: Ballet
From Artistic Director Billy Blanken: "Through SMDT, I aim to make high-quality concert dance accessible to all New Yorkers. Ballet, often hindered by financial barriers and specific settings, becomes more accessible through programming like QDF. This festival allows me to share my artwork within my local community and represent it authentically in my home neighborhood."
Photo credit Jay Krempa
Neela Dance Academy
Representing: Jackson Heights
Performing: Kathak Classical Indian dance
"Kathak, with its emphasis on rhythm and time cycles, relies on natural body movements to convey its artistry. For this project, I have selected "Tarana," a sub-genera from the Indian classical music tradition set to a sixteen-beat time cycle. I aimed to juxtapose various movements against a serene, melodic backdrop. "
Photo credit Zahidur Rashid
Cole Collective
Representing: Astoria
Performing: Tap Dance
Cole Collective is a tap dance company founded in 2014 by artistic director Nicole Ohr. The company's choreographic mission is to find connections between music, and movement, through both choreography and improvisation. Cole Collective also strives to bring tap dance to the Queens community through local performances, free community events and classes, and local jam sessions.
Photo credit Robin Michals
sarAika movement collective
Representing: Ridgewood
Performing: Contemporary
sarAika movement collective is a contemporary dance collective, founded by immigrants and queer women Aika Takeshima and Sara Pizzi, advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the dance ecosystem. They spread awareness on topical aspects or personal insight by creating multidisciplinary collaborative performances, sarAika makes dance for and about people.
Photo credit BECCAVISION