Black history is made every day in New York City. Come celebrate Black History Month with a day of learning and fun including performances and lessons from The Harlem Swing Dance Society, intergenerational storytelling, mural making, and tasty cooking demonstration by local Harlem chefs!

Registration suggested.

Museum of City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue (at 103rd Street)
New York, NY 10029

Suggested Admission
Adults: $14
Seniors, students: $10 (with I.D.)
Self-guided K–12 student groups: $5/person
Ages 19 and under: Free
Members: Free

Schedule of Events

Panel Discussion: 1:00–2:00 pm*
Voices From the Ball: The Development of Swing Dance and Lindy Hop in Harlem
Moderator: Derrick León Washington, Ph.D., Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Postdoctoral Fellow, Dance & Performance Anthropologist
Panelists: Barbara Jones, Executive Director of The Harlem Swing Dance Society
Topsy Durham, Daughter of Grammy award winning Jazz legend Eddie Durham
Crystal Johnson, Harvest Moon Ball Champion (1972) and Mama Lu Parks Dancer
Gregory Waco Arnold, Harvest Moon Ball Winner and Lou Parks Dancer
Sonny Allen, Last Harvest Moon Ball Champion from the Savoy Ballroom (1958) era
Dance Performers:  Tamisha Anthony, Craig Fuchs, Bernard Dove & Etta Dixon
*NOTE: Adults with little ones: Feel free to include or drop children off at storytelling!

Storytelling: 1:00–3:00 pm
Join performer and storyteller Daniel Carlton for a ride through history. Explore “Chaz’s magical ride through Harlem History on his horse,” encounter historical figures such as Frederick Douglass, and learn about Weeksville, Brooklyn in “Memories of self.”

Freedom Wall: 1:00–5:00 pm
Stop by our interactive mural and work with educator PJ Gubatina Policarpio to get creative. Explore photographs and quotes by historic black figures of New York City. Leave your mark to the wall by answering one main question: What does freedom look like to you?

Harlem Swing Dance and Lindy Hop Collection: 1:00–5:00 pm
View authentic, historical objects from the Harlem Swing Dance era dating back to the mid 1900’s.

Swing Dance Workshop: 2:30–3:30 pm
Work with professional swing dance instructors Tamisha Anthony & Craig Fuchs through a guided workshop to get you ready for the dance party! All dance levels and all ages are welcome.

Swing Dance Party: 3:30–5:00 pm
Come uptown to get down. Enjoy a DJ’d swing dance party, featuring the grooviest tunes from the Harvest Moon Ball and the Harlem Renaissance.