Indian Independence Day will be celebrated with a stunning display of cultural performances honoring ‘Shakti,’ the divine feminine spirit, at the 44th Annual Battery Dance Festival, New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival. The event will feature a specially organized India Day on August 15th with the theme Shakti—Divine Energy, which will feature internationally recognized dance groups and artists. This year’s event, which takes place from August 12 to 16, continues to be a major cultural highlight of NYC’s summer calendar, drawing over 22,000 attendees each year.
Battery Dance’s creator and artistic director, Jonathan Hollander, clarified that this year’s theme changes: “The previous two years, we concentrated on Purush, the male essence. We are now focusing on Shakti, which is the embodiment of feminine strength, creativity, and energy. Seven dance companies will perform as part of the India Day performance, offering both traditional and modern takes on feminine strength and heavenly authority. Highlights include a powerful performance on Goddess Kali by the Pittsburgh-based Nandanik Dance Troupe and choreography by Subhajit Khush Das from Kolkata.
The Battery Dance Festival, supported by the Consulate General of India in New York and the State Bank of India, features artists performing classical Indian styles in North America. The event celebrates the vibrant presence and creative power of the Indian diaspora, highlighting the nurturing presence of women.