The Hinton Battle Day of Dance 2026 is a free dance event held in memory of the late Broadway performer Hinton Battle. Organized by the group Black Broadway Men, the day is built around remembering his life and legacy while giving a new generation of dancers a chance to learn. The organizer described it as both a tribute and an opportunity, one that is open to everyone who wants to take part.
The man at the center of the event left a deep mark on the stage. According to the organizer, Battle performed in multiple Broadway shows and won Tony Awards not only for his dancing but also for his singing. He worked in Japan and performed nationally, and was remembered as someone who wanted to be seen as more than just a dancer, a performer determined to show his full range across the art form.
Part of what the day seeks to preserve is the company Battle kept and the work he did. The organizer recalled his role in Sophisticated Ladies alongside Gregory Hines, describing it as incredible work with beautiful people who are no longer with us. Honoring that history, they said, was central to why they wanted to uplift his life and his legacy in this particular way, through teaching and gathering.
The teaching itself is led by performers who carry that legacy forward. The organizer said the instructors on the day are all men of color, Black men who have been touched and inspired by Battle's life. Together they share a range of styles with those who attend, including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Horton and Fosse, in what the organizer described as a full-service day of dance.
The event is free, but it can open doors well beyond a single day. The organizer said attendees can end up receiving scholarships in various ways, with figures connected to the Verdon Fosse legacy coming to watch, along with people from the dance institutions BDC and Steps. Even though participants take part at no cost, some may leave with support for whatever path they want to pursue next.
The organizer also shared the practical details for anyone who wants to come along. The Hinton Battle Day of Dance 2026 is being held at Open Jars Studios at 1601 Broadway, and it is open to all ages and races. More information, they said, is available through the group's website, blackbroadwaymen.org, as well as dayofdanceny.com and the Instagram account dayofdanceny.
Before the interview ended, the organizer looked ahead to their own upcoming performances. They are appearing in La Cage aux Folles, running June 17th through June 28th at City Center, where they serve as a standby for Billy Porter and Wayne Brady. The role means stepping into the parts of Albin, George and Zaza if either lead is unavailable, a demanding job the organizer said they were excited to take on.