Inside Urban Stomp

INSIDE URBAN STOMP

A Curator's Guide to Exploring Dreams & Defiance on the Dance Floor is a companion to the Museum of the City of New York's exhibition, Urban Stomp: Dreams & Defiance on the Dance Floor. It offers the curator's insights on engaging with the exhibition, taking readers on a journey through the electrifying history of New York City's social dance-from the grand ballrooms of the 19th century to today's remixed traditions that embody the city's vibrant, intercultural fusion.

In addition to being a scholarly exploration of social dance, Urban Stomp serves as a dynamic tool for building community both on and off the dance floor. This book invites readers to fully immerse themselves in the exhibition and New York City's vibrant dance cultures, providing dance exercises, gallery dance tutorials, object highlights of the exhibits, and insider tips on where to social dance in NYC.

Each chapter explores how New York's evolving dance scenes inspire creativity and unity across generations, concluding with actionable steps to help readers bring the themes to life. Hand-drawn illustrations capture the lesser-known aspects of the city's social dance world. Rooted in the author's practice as a facilitator and years of anthropological research, this guide invites readers to reflect, dance, and cultivate community wherever a dance floor is born.