Brooklyn's BAM Next Wave Festival showcased a diverse and avant-garde dance program, featuring leading choreographers and innovative new works.
The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) once again solidified its reputation as a vanguard of contemporary performing arts with its Fall 2026 Next Wave Festival, which ran from October to December. This year's festival delivered an exceptionally rich and diverse dance program, showcasing new works from both celebrated and emerging choreographers, pushing the boundaries of movement and expression.
Known as New York City's most daring survey of avant-garde performance, the Next Wave Festival brought bold productions to Brooklyn stages, featuring artists who have shaped the performing arts for decades alongside thrilling new voices. The dance offerings were particularly compelling, reflecting a dynamic spectrum of styles and thematic explorations. A significant highlight was the groundwork laid for the 50th anniversary of DanceAfrica, the nation's largest festival dedicated to African diasporic dance and music, set for May 2027. This focus underscored BAM's commitment to honoring the legacy of choreographer Chuck Davis and providing a vital platform for African and African diasporic artists to explore historical narratives and Afrofuturist possibilities.
Audiences experienced powerful performances from notable artists such as Bessie Award-winning choreographer Cynthia Oliver, who presented "Turn. Turning. TURNT.," a three-part evening delving into Black girlhood, survival, and re-emergence. Acclaimed contemporary performer Okwui Okpokwasili also featured prominently in two works: "adaku, part 2" and the US premiere of "Minor Music at the End of the World." Rwandan artists Dorothée Munyaneza and Dorcy Rugamba contributed thought-provoking pieces drawn from memory and survival, while Nehprii Amenii made her BAM debut with "HUMAN." Further expanding the festival's artistic scope, Guggenheim Fellows Holland Andrews and yuniya edi kwon made their BAM debuts with an electrifying interdisciplinary work that seamlessly fused sound, movement, and ritual, offering an immersive exploration of creation.
The BAM Next Wave Festival's 2026 dance program was a testament to the enduring power and innovation of contemporary dance. It provided a critical space for artists to challenge conventions, explore profound themes, and captivate audiences with their visionary creations, reinforcing Brooklyn's status as a global dance hub. At GoDance, we believe in fostering the same spirit of exploration and artistic excellence in our students.
The GoDance team crafts articles about dance, technique and inspiring stories from dancers.
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The BAM Next Wave Festival is an annual event in Brooklyn, New York City, renowned for its daring survey of avant-garde music, theater, opera, and dance, presenting both established and emerging artists.
The 2026 festival presented a diverse range of contemporary and interdisciplinary dance, with a significant focus on African and African diasporic works, alongside pieces fusing sound, movement, and ritual.
