• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
  • The Cut Shop
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • The State of the Uterus
  • Parenting
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Horoscopes
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
parties!
June 18, 2018

This Dance Party Hopes to Build Understanding Through Art

By Anaka Kaundinya

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
This was way too conceptual and spiky for Mr. Cave... a bit too Hellraiser and not enough Snuffalufugus. Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya

On Thursday of last week, artist and musician Nick Cave celebrated his first major project in New York City since he collaborated with dancers from the Ailey School at Grand Central Terminal in 2013. Held at the Park Avenue Armory, the Freedom Ball served as the opening reception for “The Let Go,” a dance-hall atmosphere where visitors are immersed in Cave’s newest installation: two kinetic, 40-foot-tall, multi-colored Mylar sculptures referencing social-justice issues. Through this hybrid, multi-sensory project — which includes performance, installation, and dance-based encounters — audiences are encouraged to dispel negativity and uplift one another as they “let go” on the dance floor.

Thursday night’s party included a “Dress to Express” competition judged by fellow creatives Mickalene Thomas, Racquel Chevremont, Mickey Boardman, Bob Faust, Megan Rejman, and Adam van Eeckhout. The competition gave art fans the opportunity to win $20,000 in cash prizes for the most expressively dressed: Lil Gayboy Ladosha won the State of the World prize for being dressed in an American flag ballgown complete with a long train and crystal tiara. But it was a pair dressed in fuzzy neon costumes — Boogie Monsters — who took home the grand total prize of $10,000. Swipe through to see New York’s art and fashion glitterati in full swing.

“The Let Go” is on view at the Park Avenue Armory until July 1. Click here for tickets and installation hours. Weeknight installation hours include a special Up Right performance at 8 p.m.

View
1 / 23 Photos
Cave's kinetic sculptures making their way around the room engulfing anyone they can. Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
A competitor gets ready outside the venue. Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Adam van Eeckhout, Racquel Chevremont, Mickey Boardman, Nick Cave, Mickalene Thomas, Bob Faust and Megan Rejman Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
The Boogie Monsters went home with $10,000 for their Dare-Flair vibes. Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Dorothy lets everyone know we were not in Kansas. Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Nick Cave Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
The Boogie Monsters Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Lil Gayboy Ladosha Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Lil Gayboy Ladosha Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Lil Gayboy Ladosha Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
Lil Gayboy Ladosha and a guest outside the party. Photo: Ruvan Wijesooriya
1 / 23

Tags:

  • image gallery
  • gallery
  • culture
  • parties!

More Galleries

Jan. 10, 2023
All the Looks From the 2023 Golden Globes  Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jenna Ortega, Jessica Chastain, Julia Garner, Jeremy Allen White, Angela Bassett, and more. 
parties! Sept. 23, 2022
Katie Holmes, Chloë Sevigny, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Chanel, Mejuri, and more celebrate. 
parties! Sept. 16, 2022
Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Fendi, Frame, and Coach all celebrated NYFW. 
emmys 2022 Sept. 12, 2022
Emmys 2022: All the Red Carpet Looks  Updating: What Hollywood is wearing to the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. 
By Olivia Luppino
nyfw spring 2023 Sept. 9, 2022
Gigi Hadid, Chlöe Bailey, and More of the Bestest Party Pics of the Week  Saks Fifth Avenue, Longchamp, and more celebrate the beginning of NYFW. 
rip Sept. 9, 2022
The Queen Sure Did Love to Color-Coordinate  Monochrome for decades. 
red carpet Sept. 6, 2022
The Venice Film Festival Is a Major Fashion Event  Valentino and Gucci and Armani, oh my. 
red carpet June 5, 2022
All the Best Looks at the 2022 MTV Movie and TV Awards  Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Hudgens, Jay Ellis, and more! 
parties! May 20, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Harry Styles > everyone! 
parties! May 13, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Bury me in Dove Cameron’s Saint Sintra skirt. 
parties! May 6, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Cue the Met Gala after-party FOMO. 
met gala 2022 May 2, 2022
Met Gala 2022: All the Looks [Photos]  Billie Eilish, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Yeoh, Hailey Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Blake Lively, and more. 
parties! Apr. 29, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  This one goes to Olivia Rodrigo and her sweater vest. 
parties! Apr. 22, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  “Fuck those Zoom tops.” 
celebrity style Apr. 18, 2022
The Best Looks From Coachella 2022  From Harry Styles’s sparkling Gucci set to Megan Thee Stallion’s metallic bodysuit. 
style Apr. 13, 2022
A Look Inside the New Museum’s Spring Gala  Featuring all the best looks. 
grammys 2022 Apr. 3, 2022
Grammy Awards 2022 Red Carpet: All the Looks  Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, and more. 
oscars 2022 Mar. 28, 2022
How Were The Oscars After Party Looks Better Than The Actual Award Looks?  Finally, some fun. 
oscars 2022 Mar. 27, 2022
All the Looks From the 2022 Oscars Red Carpet  Zendaya, Regina Hall, Timothée Chalamet, Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Ariana DeBose, and more. 
style Mar. 22, 2022
Bridgerton Season 2 Premiere: All the Red-Carpet Looks 
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • About The Cut
  • About New York Magazine
  • Newsletters
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • We’re Hiring
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2023 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.