NuDance Festival

Continuing in the tradition of the 20-year Riverside Dance Festival, 1964-1984, the NuDance Festival seeks to produce and present up-and-coming dance artists, who will present new and original choreography representative of the New York dance scene. A four-day program, the Festival presents 8-10 emerging choreographers with new, exciting, innovative works. Following each evenings program, audience members are invited to participate in a moderated discussion regarding the creation and performance of new dance works.

The Festival also includes Choreographers in Creation, an informal rehearsal/workshop of the works in process with an onstage participatory segment for audience members where they are invited to learn steps from the upcoming performances.

New York Family Arts Festival

The annual New York Family Arts Festival brings together hundreds of families to witness and interact with dozens of artists from a diverse range of cultures.

Launched in 1999 to address an acute need for family oriented, multicultural, and affordable summer arts programming in our neighborhood, the Festival takes place during the month of June each summer. The Festival includes arts from all disciplines-dance, music, drama, and visual arts-and celebrates the traditions of the many cultures of New York City.

Far from the typical "spectator" event, the interactive nature of The Family Arts Festival works to break down barriers that separate. The artists share traditions that make them unique and are the foundation of who they are and where they come from. The level of participation by the attendees promotes the exchange of artistic traditions and the opportunity to explore the unfamiliar, giving people a new understanding of the other. The three main components are an outdoor opening day street fair including arts & crafts, performers, and vendors on Broadway; an afternoon tribute to family-focused organizations with performances and an awards ceremony; and day long cultural villages featuring performances, artisans, food, and workshops for an up-close and hands on hands on approach to bridging diverse cultures.

Youth Theatre Program

Conducted by Dr. Glory Van Scott, who, for the past 29 years, has been a theatre educator, author, producer, dancer and playwright, the Youth theatre Program is designed to give youths an intense and definitive study in theatre. Upon its success the program was expanded to a year round program to provide students a more in-depth training into the theatre arts.

The theatre program consists of three sessions, January through June and a fall/winter session September through December. Children receive professional training in drama/dance and vocal music and participate in three productions annually. The age range encompasses 12-18 year olds.

The African Diaspora Film Festival & Summer Film Series

The Theatre of The Riverside Church and ArtMattan Productions have join forces to present an eclectic slate of award winning, thought provoking and entertaining films from Africa and the African Diaspora. A fiery mix of independent and foreign films, animation, features and documentaries, the series depicts the richness and diversity of the global black experience.

The Harlem Arts Alliance

The first Monday of every month

A gathering of the 400-member group of individual artists, arts groups, producers, designers and directors to preserve, promote and present rich cultural programs.

Samples Of Other Programs & Collaborations

• Transcending Race; in collaboration with:
  • Auburn Theological Seminary
  • NCCJ The National Conference for Community & Justice
  • The Center for Ethnicity & Race at Columbia University
  • The Riverside Church Adult Education Committee
• The Rise & Fall of Jim Crow; in collaboration with:
  • Thirteen WNET
  • National Council for Community & Justice
• The Riverside Youth Jazz Scholarship Project
• Growing Up A Slave; in collaboration with The American Place Theatre
• Woza Albert! in association with New Heritage Theatre

Exhibits:

• The Long Walk To Freedom; in collaboration with: The New Heritage Theatre Group & Community Works
• Harlem Is: in collaboration with Community Works

Films:

• Congo: Red Rubber, White King, Black Death; in collaboration with: ArtMattan Productions/African Diaspora Film Festival