79. DANCE TO BELONG

May 24, 2026

Dancers from the early 1900s through the mid-20th century captured my attention when I came across an exhibit on my way to the ladies’ room at The 92nd Street Y. It was a welcome detour, as I was there for SUPERAGENCY: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future by Reid Hoffman and Greg Beato, where there was talk of Doomers, Gloomers, Bloomers, and Zoomers. Given the nature of the book, the space, and the crowd, it was clear I was in good company. The exhibit, DANCE TO BELONG, said it as well.

Related: MORE INSIDE, TRUE SELF, DANCER, RAINBOW

“Dance to Belong celebrates 92NY as a place where community, dance, and cultural reinvention came together to shape the very contours of modern dance itself. More than a stage, 92NY expanded ideas about what modern dance could be, breaking down barriers of language, race, nationality, and religion.” (Source: 92NY; viewable online)

I returned to dance in my 20s, taking ballet and modern lessons at 92NY after a hiatus during high school and college.

“Korean modern dancer Sai Shoki performed across Korea, Europe, Latin America, and the US, introducing audiences to her vision of a modern Korean identity. When she performed at 92NY in 1938, the YMHA Bulletin noted how her work brought together Korean court and folk music, Korean visual art, and European trends.” (Photo by Studio Iris, Paris. Source: 92NY)

The dances that spoke to me were: Buddhist Temptress, Seoul Fortune-Teller, Bodissatva, and Harvest Dance.