Arts and culture are at your family’s fingertips this summer at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, which is always packed with performances perfect for the kids or for a fun date night. Watch the Dancing Dolls from the popular hit series Bring It! during an electrifying performance at the Bring It! LIVE Dance Battle Tour, enjoy a date night with your sweetheart with the legendary Gladys Knight and Will Downing, or learn beat boxing, poetry, and hip hop dance moves at the Hip Hop Family Festival. Check out our fave picks for must-see performances at NJPAC this summer.

featured image via NJPAC

Here are 5 must-see NJPAC shows this summer:

Felix Hernandez’s Rhythm Revue Dance Party, July 11th

What’s better than a dance party with the fam? Kick off summer with Felix Hernandez’s Rhythm Revue Dance Party featuring the metro area’s first and longest-running radio show dedicated to classic soul and R&B. Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City is hosting free outdoor concerts all summer in Chambers Plaza.
Chambers Plaza
Cost: free

Bring It! LIVE – The Dance Battle Tour, July 13th

Coach Dianna Williams and the Dancing Dolls from the hit series Bring It! are back for the Bring It! LIVE Dance Battle Tour. This show features all-new, hotter-than-ever heart-pounding dance routines and exciting audience interaction that your littles will love. This year, the tour incorporates “Fan vs. Dancing Doll” stand battles and an electrifying finale that will leave you wanting more.
Prudential Hall
Cost: $33.75-$63.75

Charlie Cruz, August 8th

Rising vocalist Charlie Cruz makes his way to the stage for a night full of dancing and shaking. Born in Puerto Rico, Charlie Cruz discovered his love of salsa while he was growing up in Paterson. As a part of Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City, this sizzling salsa show is free and outdoors: the two things we love during summertime!
Chambers Plaza
Cost: free

Gladys Knight with Will Downing, August 29th

Bring your sweetheart out for a night of classic and contemporary soul, R&B and more with music icon Gladys Knight and special guest Will Downing. Gladys Knight is an R&B legend, known for number 1 hits in pop, gospel, R&B, and adult contemporary charts, including “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “Neither One of Us,” “License to Kill,” and “That’s What Friends Are For.” With special guest Will Downing, known as the “Prince of Sophisticated Soul,” this soulful duo is performing their top hits that’ll leave you movin’ and groovin’ all night.
Prudential Hall
Cost: $49-$129

Hip Hop Family Festival, August 29th

NJPAC is hosting the free Hip Hop Family Festival this August where the whole fam can learn to make moves, music, and art as part of the hip hop scene. The event features DJ demos, beat making, poetry and rap classes, graffiti art, and tons of dancing!
NJPAC
Cost: free