At a time when politics seeks to divide people based on where they come from and their roots, Accent Dance NYC breaks barriers with sheer force and emotion. For two nights, 21 dancers will fill the Ailey Citigroup Theater with stories that make you feel, vibrate and think: stories of immigration, identity, roots and rebirth told through ballet, contemporary dance, urban and Latin rhythms, and the power of African drums. Each movement invites the public to see themselves reflected in others and to recognize that, beyond our differences, we all share the same desire to belong.
On March 13 and 14, the company will present “NEXT: New Voices, Shared Stories,” its second annual spring program on this iconic stage. The evening includes three works commissioned through the NEXT program, which supports emerging choreographers with funding, mentorship and performance opportunities, along with work by renowned Cuban choreographer Pedro Ruiz, winner of the Bessie Award, New York’s highest dance honor, and former principal dancer with Ballet Hispánico.
Founded seven years ago, Accent Dance NYC has built a clear mission: to use dance to connect communities and celebrate diversity. Since its inception, the company has reached more than 30,000 school children in the city’s five boroughs, offering both concert performances and educational programs.
Andrea Ziegelman, founder and artistic director of the company, explains the power of dance: “When you see these works, you recognize yourself in stories that at first may seem foreign. Then you understand that our differences make us stronger and that we are all searching for the same thing: who we are, where we belong, and how to honor our roots while building something new.”
Accent Dance NYC’s spring program offers a blend of personal and universal stories told through dance. Among the featured works is “A Place for Us” by Danielle Diniz, a 13-minute story that mixes ballet, Latin, contemporary dance and theater to tell the story of her grandparents, immigrants from Mexico and Portugal.
“Narcissus” by Will Ervin explores the path to self-love and acceptance, connecting personal identity to cultural origins. The work fuses modern, contemporary and urban dance styles, inspired by Greek mythology and the daffodil flower, a symbol of rebirth and inner reflection.
Miaotian Sun, Chinese choreographer, presents “Echoes Between Us,” a reinterpretation of the Sanxingdui civilization discovered in 2021. Sun combines traditional Chinese dance with Western contemporary movement to show how people, over time and distance, maintain connection with their past.
For his part, Pedro Ruiz brings “Mar y Tierra”, a work that combines classic and contemporary ballet with the Mediterranean musical traditions of his grandparents. Originally created for the Camagüey Contemporary Ballet in Cuba, the piece reflects on how family heritage influences artistic identity. The New York Times has described her work as “an explosion of pure, elegant and sensual dance.”
The evening will also feature a West African dance and percussion performance, with three dancers and two percussionists playing djembe and dundun, adding a rhythmic and visceral element that celebrates cultural diversity.
Accent Dance NYC continues to demonstrate that dance is not just spectacle, but a means to connect people, stimulate the mind, and strengthen communication between diverse communities.
