First-Come, First-Served Entry

All Bryant Park Picnic Performances Are FREE

Featuring EMERGE125 (Contemporary Modern) and Ayodele Casel (Tap)

EMERGE125 is a Black female-led hub for dance performance, creation, and education. The organization operates dual homes in Harlem and Lake Placid, New York, while serving audiences both locally and around the world. EMERGE125 has established itself as a leader by setting new standards for dancer care; creating innovative, cross-disciplinary collaborations with leading artists; and using movement as a catalyst for community building: expanding the reach, purpose, and impact of the art of dance.

Ayodele Casel, an award-winning "tap dancer and choreographer of extraordinary depth" (The New York Times) and one of The New York Times' "Biggest Breakout Stars of 2019," most recently serves as Tap Choreographer for the recent Broadway revival of Funny Girl. She also created and choreographed Chasing Magic, a dance film and concert encapsulating the wonder of collaboration and artistry. Ayodele was also a 2019-2020 fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and Artist in Residence at Harvard University. Ayodele has the privilege of being a featured tap dancer honoring the art form of tap on a 2021 US Postal Service Forever Stamp.