📅 Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Manhattan Movement & Arts Center
248 W 60th Street, New York, NY 10023
👨👩👧👦 Appropriate for All Ages
The vibrant traditions of Kalmykia will be represented this fall at the NY International Dance Festival, taking place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center in New York City.
Founded in 2023 by Artistic Director Brigid Le Minez, the NY International Dance Festival was created to bring a wide diversity of dance traditions to audiences while providing freelance artists with a platform to present both new choreography and treasured classical works. The festival celebrates character, folk, social, and national dances from cultures around the world and is a member of Le Conseil International de la Danse-UNESCO.
This year's program offers an extraordinary journey across cultures, with performances representing traditions from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Among the many highlights will be Kalmyk, Buryat, Sakha, Kazakh, Georgian, Armenian, Ukrainian, Polish, Italian, Spanish, Irish, Japanese-inspired, Indian, and Middle Eastern dance traditions.
Kalmyk Culture on the New York Stage
A particularly meaningful part of the evening will be the participation of Phoenix Studio at Kalmyk Heritage Center, bringing Kalmyk dance and cultural heritage to an international audience.
For the Kalmyk community, traditional dance is more than performance. It provides a connection to history, cultural memory, community, and identity. Presenting Kalmyk dance alongside the traditions of other peoples creates an opportunity to share the richness of Kalmyk heritage while celebrating the diversity of cultures that make New York such a unique place.
The festival will also feature Baikal Center Ensemble, Sakha Yakut Ensemble “Sundaara,” and other artists representing the cultural traditions of Eurasia, creating a particularly special evening of dance from across the region.
A Celebration of Dance From Around the World
Audiences can expect a remarkably diverse program featuring Armenian, Ukrainian, Italian, Polish, and Spanish character dances; Dabke; Irish dance; Belly Dance; Flamenco; Kazakh dance; Mazurka; Georgian dance; Kalmyk and Buryat dance; Sakha traditions; Japanese-inspired movement; Kathak; Odissi; and Bharatanatyam.
The evening will also include special performances of La Gaîté Parisienne by American Liberty Ballet, as well as the pas de deux from Satanella, among other works.
The lineup brings together established ensembles, independent artists, teachers, choreographers, and young dancers, reflecting the festival's commitment to creating opportunities for artists while introducing audiences to a wide range of dance traditions.
Featured Dancers and Ensembles
The 2026 NY International Dance Festival will feature performances by:
Fadi J Khoury of FJK Dance
Phoenix Studio at Kalmyk Heritage Center
Baikal Center Ensemble
Sakha Yakut Ensemble, “Sundaara”
Lotus Ensemble
ELVA Dance Georgia
VART Armenian Folk Dance Ensemble
American Liberty Ballet
Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance
Danielle Marie Fusco
Radha Varadan
Dr. Tapasi Rath
Brigid Le Minez
Nicole Fedorov
Anastasia Barsukova
Natalia Belyakova
Tatyana Popova
Students of Tatyana Popova Dance World
Thansi Thatipamula
Ava Prentice
Cooper Everson
Arisa Tanihata
Sira Melikian
Natalia McCarthy
Adelita Hinojosa-Martin
An Evening of Cultural Connection
Events such as the NY International Dance Festival demonstrate the power of dance to bring people together across linguistic, geographic, and cultural boundaries. Each tradition carries its own history and artistic language, yet on the stage these diverse forms become part of a shared celebration of human creativity and cultural heritage.
For members and friends of the Kalmyk community, the participation of Phoenix Studio at Kalmyk Heritage Center is an exciting opportunity to see Kalmyk culture represented as part of this international celebration and to introduce a wider New York audience to the beauty of Kalmyk dance.
The festival is appropriate for all ages, making it a wonderful cultural experience for families, students, dance enthusiasts, and anyone interested in discovering the traditions of communities from around the world.
Join us on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, 248 W 60th Street, New York, NY 10023, for an evening where cultures meet through dance — including the vibrant traditions of Kalmykia.