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Dominican NYC

Dominican NYC is one of New York City’s largest Latin communities. In 1613, NYC’s first immigrant, Juan Rodriguez, came to what is now Manhattan, from what is now the Dominican Republic.

We are Washington Heights, Inwood, Brooklyn, Queens and the West Bronx.

We are Merengue and Bachata. We celebrate Carnival all February long. In literature, we are Julia Alvarez and Junot Díaz. We are great at Baseball.

We make New York work. We are strong in health care, government, and retail services. We integrate very well. Hard-working Dominicans and The Diaspora have created economic booms in both Washington Heights and the Dominican Republic.

Dominican NYC News

April 27, 2022

Jan | Feb | Apr | May | Aug | Sep

Afro-Dominican Jazz

Josean Jacobo presents his new Jazz album “Herencia Criolla” at Hostos Center in Mott Haven, The Bronx with a Master Class on his process Wed, Apr 27 at 7pm (free with registration hostos.cuny.edu) and a live Concert on Fri, Apr 29 at 8pm. From $20 (Students $5). hostos.cuny.edu

Caribbean NYC

The Year in Dominican NYC

January Dominican NYC

2023

Dominican Heritage Month

New York Dominican Heritage Month is Sat, Jan 21 – Feb 27. 🇩🇴

National Dominican Day Parade Scholarships

National Dominican Day Parade Scholarship applications open in January.

Celebrate the Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, patron saint of the Dominican Republic, on Sat, Jan 21.

Remember Juan Pablo Duarte, founding father of the Dominican Republic, on Thu, Jan 26.

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February Dominican NYC

2022

Dominican Heritage Month

New York Dominican Heritage Month is Jan 21 – Feb 27. 🇩🇴

Dominican Independence Day

Dominican Independence Day is Sun, Feb 27 (1844). 🇩🇴

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April Dominican NYC

2022

Scholarships

2022 National Dominican Day Parade Scholarship applications are due Apr 4. 🇩🇴

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May Dominican NYC

2022

Bachata & Merengue

Latin Grammy nominee Manny Cruz sings Dominican Bachata and Merengue at Lehman Center in Jerome Park, The Bronx on Sat, Jan 29 at 8pm. Rescheduled to Sat May 21 at 8pm. From $45. 🇩🇴

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August Dominican NYC

2022

Dominican Parade Gala

The 2022 National Dominican Day Parade Gala is Fri, Aug 12. 🇩🇴

Dominican Parade

The 2022 National Dominican Day Parade is Sun, Aug 14. 🇩🇴

Celebrate Dominican Restoration Day on Tue, Aug 16. 🇩🇴

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September Dominican NYC

2022

Dominican Film Festival New York

The Dominican Film Festival New York is Sep 21-26. dominicanfilmfestival.com

Celebrate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (Our Lady of Mercy) on Sat, Sep 24. 🇩🇴

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Previously in Dominican NYC

En el tiempo de las mariposas, Repertorio Español’s version of the Julia Álvarez drama about the legendary Mirabal Sisters, is at Harlem Stage in Manhattanville, Harlem on Wed, Mar 23 at 1pm & 7:30pm. Free. 🇩🇴

DJ Mad, DJ Hova, DJ Chocomambo and DJ Rod spin the Spanglish Saturdays dance party at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Sat, Mar 19 at 10pm. Guestlist free before midnight. Then $25. 🇩🇴

Los Toros Band plays Dominican Bachata and Merengue at Sabor Latino in Elmhurst, Queens on Sat, Mar 12 after midnight (10pm doors). $20. 🇩🇴

Sosa Y BachataFlo play Bachata for dancing at Gonzalez y Gonzalez in Greenwich Village on Sun, Mar 6 at 8:30 & 10:30pm. $10. 🇩🇴

James Sedano’s Brunchata, Bachata lunch is at Gonzalez y Gonzalez in Greenwich Village on Sun, Mar 6 from 1-6pm. $10. 🇩🇴

February 2022

La breve y maravillosa vida de Oscar Wao, the Junot Díaz Pulitzer Prize winner about growing up Dominican American, is at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan on Sat-Sun, Feb 5-6 and Fri-Sat, Feb 11-12. From $15. 🇩🇴

En el tiempo de las mariposas, the Julia Álvarez drama about the legendary Mirabal Sisters, is at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan on Sat, Feb 5 at 3pm. From $15. 🇩🇴

Zacarias Ferreira and Kiko Rodriguez sing Dominican Bachata Para Enamorados for dancing at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Fri, Feb 4 at 10pm. From $50. 🇩🇴

December 2021

Junot Díaz’ La breve y maravillosa vida de Oscar Wao opens at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan on Sat, Nov 27 at 8pm. In repertory to Dec 12. From $15. 🇩🇴

Julia Álvarez’ Mirabal Sisters drama, En el tiempo de las mariposas, opens at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan on Fri, Nov 19 at 8pm. In repertory to Dec 23. From $15. 🇩🇴

November 2021

Scherezade Garcia: Stories of Wonder: When the Sea is my Land is at Praxis in Chelsea to Nov 13. praxis-art.com 🇩🇴

October 2021

Elvis Martínez plays Dominican Bachata at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Fri, Oct 29 at 9pm. From $48. 🇩🇴

Oct 13 – Diana Pagan of Washington Heights is making sweet house music in Nirvana Reimagined as House and Techno for TechRow Records. YouTube 🇩🇴

Aventura with Romeo Santos brings their Inmortal Tour to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sat, Oct 9, 2021 at 8pm. From $49.50. 🇩🇴

Afro-Dominicano plays Bachata for dancing at the “Brunchata” Bachata brunch at Gonzalez y Gonzalez in Greenwich Village on Sun, Oct 10 from 12 noon to 10pm. $10 cover after 5pm. 🇩🇴

Grupo Aurora plays Bachata for dancing at Gonzalez y Gonzalez in Greenwich Village for the “Brunchata” Bachata brunch on Sun, Oct 3 from 1-6pm. 🇩🇴

The Cruce de Campeones USA National Freestyle Rap Finals are at La Boom NY in Woodside, Queens on Sat, Oct 2 at 6pm. Cacha vs Yartzi is the exhibition. From $35. 🇨🇴🇨🇺🇩🇴🇪🇨🇬🇹🇲🇽|🇦🇷🇵🇷

September 2021

The New York Yankees celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a giveaway of Yankee caps with Hispanic flags for Yankee games on Fri-Wed, Sep 17-22, 2021. From $40. mlb.com
🇦🇷🇧🇴🇧🇷🇨🇱🇨🇴🇨🇷🇨🇺🇩🇴🇪🇨🇸🇻🇬🇹🇭🇳🇲🇽🇳🇮🇵🇦🇵🇾🇵🇪🇵🇷🇪🇸🇺🇾🇻🇪

Oscar de la Renta shows digitally at New York Fashion Week on Sun, Sep 12 at 4:30pm. oscardelarenta.com 🇩🇴

Frank Reyes sings Dominican bachata for dancing at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Fri, Sep 10 at 10pm. From $50 🇩🇴

Monse (Oscar de La Renta creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia) shows offsite at New York Fashion Week on Thu, Sep 9 at 4pm. 🇩🇴

Giannina Azar and Jose Ventura show at Fashion Designers of Latin America at Lavan541 in Chelsea, Manhattan on Tue-Wed, Sep 8-9, 2021. 🇩🇴

Dominican Archive

¡Quisqueya!

“Quisqueya” is the Taíno name for the island of Hispaniola. The Dominican Republic was the Indigenous Taíno heartland with wings in Eastern Cuba and Puerto Rico.

“Compadre Pedro Juan, Baile el Jaleo”

Dominican Festivals in NYC

New York City’s big Dominican celebrations include the National Dominican Day Parade, the Dominican Film Festival, and the FDLA – Fashion Designers of Latin America fashion shows during NYFW – New York Fashion Week.

Dominican New York City

There are Dominican neighborhoods in Washington Heights/Inwood in Manhattan; around Highbridge in The Bronx; and Corona/Jackson Heights in Queens.

Dyckman St in Inwood is a fun street of Dominican restaurants and bars, especially in summer. The row of restaurants on Dyckman’s west end, anchored by Mamajuana Cafe, are really fun in summer. The community holds events at 809 Restaurant & Lounge. Bocaditos Bistro on Broadway is a great place to take your parents or a date. The best seat in the house is the couch in the back.

Dominican New Yorkers

Manahatta’s first immigrant was Juan Rodriguez, an African Portuguese who came on a Dutch ship from what is now the Dominican Republic.

Ydanis Rodriguez was a New York City Council member. Adriano Espaillat is the first member of the U.S. Congress with a Dominican heritage.

Romeo Santos and Aventura popularized urban bachata out of The Bronx. Cardi B is a real character, but she is rocking the world with her WAP. Some people are upset (because they can’t get any 😂).

Albania Rosario is an immigrant who didn’t speak English when she came to New York, but she has built Fashion Designers of Latin American (formerly Uptown Fashion Week) into a real part of Fashion Week.

Even if you are not famous, we are one of the Latin communities that makes New York City work. We are essential NYC. Muy orgulloso!

The Dominican World

Anacaona was a Taíno leader of her people when the Spaniards came. Enriquillo was a Taíno who fought the Spanish. Maria Olofa and Gonzalo Mandinga led the first African rebellion in the Americas on December 25, 1522.

Juan Pablo Duarte is the founding father of the Dominican Republic. Duarte with Francisco del Rosario Sanchez and Matías Ramón Mella are La Trinitaria (The Trinity) who led the independence of the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Culture

Dominican culture is Caribbean which means its relaxed and fun. The UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognizes these Dominican cultural traditions:

  • The Cultural Space of the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit of the Congos of Villa Mella is an African drumming tradition syncretized with the Christian Pentecost.
  • The Cocolo Dance Drama Tradition is a syncretization of African and British cultural themes.
  • Merengue is a folk music and dance tradition from the northern Dominican Republic. It’s often played with accordions. This simple African 2/2 beat is very easy to dance. You just step back and forth and dance as close as you both dare. It is now considered the national dance of the Dominican Republic and one of the Latin dances.
  • Bachata is a popular romantic guitar music and dance. It’s a 4/4 beat danced very close with an upward hip thrust on 4. The modern version of the music was popularized by Aventura and Romeo Santos out of The Bronx. It is one of the Latin dances.

The Dominican Republic celebrates Carnival on weekends during the entire month of February. The season starts in La Vega and ends with the big Carnival in Santo Domingo Carnival.

Most towns in former colonies of the Americas also celebrate patron saint festivals. Every little town has its own traditions. There are local patron saint festivals all year long. They are not tourism lite, but are wonderful expressions of humanity.

Visit the Dominican Republic

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (Pretoperola/Dreamstime)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (Pretoperola/Dreamstime)

The Dominican Republic is the eastern side of the Caribbean island Hispaniola. It is famous for beautiful beaches, merengue and bachata culture, and happy people. It’s the only place we’ve been where locals will just start singing in front of you. They’re not performing. They’re just happy. It’s natural. It’s Dominican Spirit!

Hispaniola was the Indigenous Taíno heartland. The Taíno called it “Quisqueya” or “mother of all lands.” The Taíno had a highly organized community structure and are remembered for their women leaders. These are both characteristics of New York City’s Dominican community.

The capital city of Santo Domingo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 1498, it was the home of the first cathedral, hospital, customs house and university in the Americas. The town was arranged on a grid pattern which became the model for cities up and down the Americas. Even New York City’s famed street grid is a copy of Santo Domingo’s.

Merengue is a folk dance from the Northern DR. November 26 is National Merengue Day.

A Happy People

Dominican Republic folk dancers (Dlrz4114/Dreamstime)
Dominican Republic folk dancers (Dlrz4114/Dreamstime)
Caribbean NYC

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