Happy days are back, or so we hope, and Lincoln Center celebrated with a "who's who" of dance performance series at Damrosch Park. Energy buzzed  the spiraling lines of dance lovers intent on getting a seat and embracing friends not seen for months on end.

Robert Battle (artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) giddily welcomed the audience and introduced the program that crackled with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing an excerpt from Rennie Harris' evening length work Lazarus. The punchy, hip-hop based piece revved-up the audience. 

In a complete turnabout, New York City Ballet's Taylor Stanley absorbed the space in a meditative solo Ces noms que nous portons by Kyle Abraham. Radiating an introspective intensity, Stanley stood on one leg and leaned forward, arms reaching towards the audience in a prayer of serenity.

Next Dance Theater of Harlem brought a feisty excerpt from Harlem on My Mind by Darrell Grand Moultrie performed on pointe. Later, In a tribute to the great Tony Bennett -- who just announced he will no longer be performing live -- ABT delivered Jessica Lang's swooning, breathlessly lyrical duet Let Me Sing Forevermore.

The one-hour program ended on a earthy, throbbing excerpt from Gustavo Ramirez Sansano's 18 + 1 for Ballet Hispanico.

The outdoor dance programs will continue through Saturday.
EYE ON THE ARTS, NY -- Celia Ipiotis