Jessee Robinson & Soles of Duende, festival performers at Battery Dance Festival 2026
RAC at Battery Dance Festival 2026
RAC at Battery Dance Festival 2026
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Rhythmic Arts Center NYC (RAC) is proud to support Battery Dance Festival 2026 by providing access to professional percussive dance flooring for rehearsals, workshops on August 3 & 10, and the opening night performance by Jesse Robinson and Brinda Guha at Robert F. Wagner Park on August 11.
Percussive dance forms such as tap and kathak require specialized flooring to protect dancers and produce the sound that is central to the art form. By making this professional dance surface available, RAC is helping create a safe and authentic environment for both teaching and performance while expanding access to rhythm-based dance at one of New York City's premier free dance festivals.
This partnership reflects a shared commitment between Rhythmic Arts Center NYC and Battery Dance Festival to ensure that technical requirements never become barriers to artistic expression, allowing more artists and audiences to experience the richness of rhythm-based dance.
About Battery Dance Festival
BATTERY DANCE FESTIVAL, New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival, was established by Battery Dance as the Downtown Dance Festival in 1982. Originally envisioned and conducted as an “art in the workplace” series, the festival brought hundreds of free noontime dance performances to lower Manhattan public spaces, including South Street Seaport, One Chase Plaza, City Hall, and, for many years, the World Trade Center Plaza. Gratefully in partnership with Battery Park City Authority, the Festival will present the 45th iteration at the stunning waterfront at Wagner Park, offering exhilarating performances and building community where audiences are invited to enjoy, move, connect, and celebrate together.
https://batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival/
Soles of Duende
Soles of Duende is a New York–based ensemble founded by Amanda Castro (Tap), Arielle Rosales (Flamenco), and Brinda Guha (Kathak). Rooted in three distinct percussive dance traditions, the group centers collaboration, musicality, and cultural exchange across disciplines.
A Bessie-nominated company, Soles of Duende has performed at major venues including The Joyce Theater, Joe’s Pub, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Museum, NYU Skirball Center, and Danspace Project. Their work has been featured on the cover of Dance Magazine and recognized by The New York Times as a Critics’ Pick and one of the Best Dance Performances of 2022.
Originally formed as an a cappella trio, the group has expanded into a multidisciplinary ensemble of dancers and musicians. Soles has lit floors on fire since their inception, showcasing the power of three women conversing in distinct percussive dance traditions. www.solesofduende.com
FRee Rhythm Workshop at RAC
Monday 8.3.2026
7-8pm
Jessee Leigh Robinson
Jessee Leigh Robinson is a New York City–based dancer from Los Angeles, California. She is an alumna of The School at Jacob’s Pillow and Dance Lab New York (2024–2025 Tap Dance Lab cycles). Jessee currently works with AM Dance Productions, led by Anthony Morigerato.
Her recent performance credits include ZAZ at New York City Center, Dance Africa Dallas with Sole Defined, and collaborations with Lisa LaTouche and LaTasha Barnes. She has also contributed to pre-production for Encores! Wonderful Town (choreographed by Ayodele Casel) and Jelly’s Last Jam (choreographed by Dormeshia). As a choreographer, her work has been presented at venues including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, 92NY, and Dixon Place. https://www.jesseeleighrobinson.com/home
FRee intermediate Tap Workshop at RAC
Monday 8.11.2026
11AM-12PM
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Jessee & Soles of Duende’s
Battery Dance Festival 2026 performance at Robert F. Wagner Junior Park
Tuesday 8.11.2026
7pm
ABOUT BATTERY DANCE
Founded by Jonathan Hollander in 1976 in lower Manhattan, Battery Dance now serves as one of America’s leading cultural ambassadors, connecting the world through dance. With its exceptional team of dancers who also serve as teaching artists and choreographers, the Company pursues artistic excellence and social relevance, creating vibrant new works, performing on the world’s stages, presenting dance in public spaces, serving the field of dance with low-cost studios in its home in Tribeca and teaching people of all ages with special attention to the disadvantaged and areas of conflict. Battery Dance is committed to enhancing the cultural vibrancy of its home community in New York City, extending programming throughout the U.S., and building bridges worldwide through international cultural exchange with programs in 75 countries to date https://batterydance.org/
SUPPORT FOR THE 2026 BATTERY DANCE FESTIVAL
The 2026 Battery Dance Festival is presented in partnership with Battery Park City Authority. Public Funds have been contributed by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature; and New York City Council member Christopher Marte’s Office. Generous support has been provided by The Shubert Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, The Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Consulate General of India in New York, State Bank of India, the Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York, the Ministry of Culture in Taiwan, the Consulate General of Spain in New York, The Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN) in Romania, the Romanian Cultural Center, the Consulate General of Germany, Weill Cornell Medicine, Vitamin Water, Rhythmic Arts Center, Escuela Movimento em Foco, Cía. Elías Aguirre, SNEO, Angelica Walker Projects, and many individual donors.