So the New York Times drops this headline: “Powerhouse: International Festival Opens Its Dance Floor. First Up, Skateboarders.” And honestly? I’m not even surprised—I’m excited.
We’ve been saying it for years: dance isn’t just steps in a studio or on a stage. It’s movement. It’s rhythm. It’s expression. And if anyone still needed proof that skateboarding is an art form—fluid, physical, and fiercely creative—this is it.
Skateboarding is dance on wheels. Watch a skater carve through a half-pipe or flip a board mid-air—there’s timing, flow, style, and a kind of bodily intelligence that’s not so different from what we see in breaking, contemporary, or even ballet. The lines have been blurring for a while now—just look at how viral skate-dance fusion videos get on social media.
But putting skateboarders front and center at a major international dance festival? That’s a statement. It’s a nod to the streets, to subcultures, to the idea that art evolves where you least expect it. It challenges purists and expands what “dance” can mean.
This isn’t a gimmick. It’s recognition. Skate culture has influenced music, fashion, and visual art for decades. Now it’s stepping—or rolling—right into the heart of performance.
I’m here for it. Festivals like this remind us that movement is universal. Whether you’re in sneakers or ballet shoes, on a board or on your feet, what matters is the story you’re telling with your body.
The floor is open. Let’s see where it goes.
