Even though it poured during New York City’s 2023 Dance Parade, the performers couldn’t have been in a better mood. Since the Cabaret Laws, which made dancing illegal in New York City for almost a century, were taken away in 2017, the celebration of freedom through dancing never stopped, rain or shine.
The parade started as an idea from the community and has grown into one of the most exciting cultural events in the city. Metropolis in Motion is in charge of the parade. It is a non-profit group that was started in 2006 by New York City locals who didn’t think dancing should be limited. Even though the parade started as an activist movement, it has become more and more known as a cultural event. The 17th-annual parade featured 10,000 dancers from 200 dance organizations, 100 dance genres, 70 floats and vehicles.
