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Wave Hill Juneteenth Event in The Bronx Featuring Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet: What to Know
- Damian Ali
- Jun 10
- 2 min read
Image of the dance company Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet during the Juneteenth 2025 performance. Photo courtesy of Wave Hill.
Bronx residents will have an opportunity to celebrate Juneteenth through dance, art, education, and community gathering at Wave Hill's free afternoon event this month.
The event will take place on Friday, June 19, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m. at the historic estate's 28-acre public garden and cultural center located at 4900 Independence Avenue in Riverdale.
The celebration will feature a performance by Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet, a Brooklyn-based dance company whose work draws on African American history, culture, and storytelling. The dance company also appeared at Wave Hill's Juneteenth celebration in 2025.
The event is designed for all ages and features a mix of live performances, interactive activities, and student presentations, giving families and neighbors an opportunity to gather outdoors while reflecting on the holiday.
The federal holiday marks June 19, 1865, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Admission to the grounds is free during the event.
Visitors will be able to take part in art-making activities throughout the afternoon while gathering on Wave Hill's Great Lawn for picnicking and community activities. Complimentary hand-rolled ice cream from Only Rare NYC, New York City's only Black-owned rolled ice cream shop, will be available from noon to 2 p.m. Guests are welcome to bring folding chairs, blankets, and their own picnic items.
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When The Bronx Moved Exhibit opens at the Museum of Bronx History, focusing on the borough's dance culture from 1970 to 1984 and its global reach. Read: When The Bronx Moved at the Museum of Bronx History: What To Know
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At 3 p.m., Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet will present a performance featuring works that highlight the Black experience in America and the resilience of the human spirit. Founded in Brooklyn in 1994 by choreographer and educator Jamel Gaines, the organization has spent more than three decades using dance, arts education, and cultural programming to connect communities across New York City.
Earlier in the afternoon, Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet will also lead an interactive dance workshop featuring performer, choreographer, educator, and author Theara Ward.
Ward began her professional career with Dance Theatre of Harlem at age 13 and has performed internationally. Her work includes performances in the Broadway production of Black and Blue and educational programs with organizations such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
The celebration will also feature performances by students from Bronx public schools P.S. 70 and P.S. 85 who participate in the JGCO Residency Program. The student performances offer a glimpse into the work being done through the JGCO Residency Program in Bronx schools.
Reservations are not required for the Great Lawn. Additional information is available through Wave Hill and NYC Parks.
Follow:
Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet @jamelgainescreativeoutlet
Theara Ward @theara.j
Only Rare NYC @onlyrarenyc
Wave Hill @wavehill
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