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Colonial Theatre, 1937. Photo: Collection of the New-York Historical Society.

Join us for a celebratory swing dance night centered on African American social dance styles that came to prominence in New York City in the 1920s, complete with live music and short dance lessons on a variety of styles, including Charleston, Lindy Hop, and more.

The historic neighborhood of San Juan Hill was alive with theaters, clubs, and dancehalls, a cultural hotbed in the first half of the 20th century. Home to the largest Black community in New York City by 1910, music and dance thrived in the area, where social dance styles related to jazz music and with roots in Africa, the Caribbean and the American South were popularized. In the early 1900s, residents danced at clubs like the Jungles Casino, where jazz musician James P. Johnson played and dances like the Charleston proliferated. Though originating in the Gullah Geechee community of the American South and a descendant of the West African Juba dance, the Charleston was made famous on the stage of the Colonial Theatre in San Juan Hill (now the site of the David Rubenstein Atrium) in the musical Runnin’ Wild in the 1920s. As Black communities migrated northward in Manhattan, their dance styles continued to transform and spread. The Charleston evolved into Lindy Hop, which first emerged at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in the late 1920s and is a staple of the swing dance community today.

Venue
David Rubenstein Atrium
1887 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

For ticketing, call CenterCharge at 212-721-6500 from Monday–Saturday 10:00 am–8:00 pm and Sunday noon–6:00 pm.

For general inquiries, call Guest Experience at 212-875-5456 or email [email protected].

The David Rubenstein Atrium is where arts and democracy converge—committed to the values of welcoming all, artistic innovation, audience and artist intimacy, and community partnership. The Atrium’s free programming opens our world to culture that addresses today’s most pressing issues and explores our common humanity. Learn more »

Accessibility

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Accessible seating and designated aisle seats; Accessible restrooms and accessible routes
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FM assistive listening devices with headsets and neck loops
 

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