UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is bringing back its sprawling "Summer for the City" festival this June, promising hundreds of free and low-cost performances centered on dance, music and global culture.
The festival, which will run from June 10 through Aug. 8 across its 16-acre campus, will be mostly free, while some indoor shows offer choose-what-you-pay tickets starting at $5.
Now in its fifth year, the festival has drawn more than 1.6 million visitors since launching in 2022, officials said.
"This summer’s focus on international artistry reflects our global city, as well as our commitment to collaboration and artistic exchange," Mariko Silver, president and CEO of Lincoln Center, said. "Lincoln Center is a place for community, for belonging, for experiences that help us feel vividly connected to each other and to something larger than ourselves—a reminder of how truly joyful it is to be together."
Dance will take center stage this summer, including the debut of a new contemporary dance initiative and the first-ever Lincoln Center Contemporary Dance Festival.
The lineup also includes outdoor performances, social dance nights and a range of styles from hip-hop to ballroom.
Opening night on June 10 will feature a trio of performances, including a large-scale community dance piece, a duet inspired by North Indian traditions, and a swing dance party with live music.
The festival will also include returning favorites like the BAAND Together Dance Festival and silent discos on the plaza, alongside nine new commissions spanning dance and classical music.
International programming is a major focus, with themed events such as Chinese Arts Week, Brazil Day, Jamaica Day and K-Pop Dance Night.
A new "World at Play" series will blend arts and sports, highlighting global soccer culture through performances, film screenings and workshops.
Outdoor spaces will once again be transformed with immersive design elements, including a revamped fountain show and a central dance floor.
Choose-what-you-pay tickets go on sale to members on May 13 and to the general public on May 20.
Free events will be first-come, first-served, with select reservations available online here.
For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.
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