History Of The Hippo Ballerina In Front Of NYC's Lincoln Center

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Public art has a way of surprising New Yorkers when they least expect it. During 2017, one of Manhattan’s most photographed temporary sculptures stood just outside Lincoln Center, where a graceful 15-foot-tall hippopotamus dressed as a ballerina delighted visitors and became an unforgettable part of the Broadway streetscape.

If you recently visited New York City and headed over to Lincoln Center, you probably noticed a 15-foot hippopotamus dressed in a ballerina outfit standing in the small park directly in front of the complex. That small park, known as Dante Park, was home to New York City’s Hippo Ballerina from February 2017 through October 2017. You may ask why there was a hippopotamus statue in front of Lincoln Center. It actually made perfect sense. Lincoln Center is home to the prestigious New York City Ballet, and what better place in the world could there be for a ballerina hippo than outside the David H. Koch Theater?

The Story Behind the Hippo Ballerina

The sculpture, titled Hippo Ballerina, was created by Danish artist Bjørn Okholm Skaarup. Its placement was coordinated through New York City’s Art in the Parks program. The sculpture was inspired by the dancing hippopotamus sequence in Walt Disney’s classic 1940 animated film Fantasia, while the costume was modeled after Edgar Degas’ famous sculpture Little Dancer Aged Fourteen. The tutu worn by Skaarup’s hippo closely resembles the costume featured in Degas’ celebrated work.

The small strip of land that became home to the Hippo Ballerina sits at the corner of Broadway and West 64th Street. Dante Park also features a distinctive modern clock and several benches, making it a pleasant place to relax while enjoying views of Lincoln Center. The Hippo Ballerina was originally scheduled to remain only through July 2017. Like many successful Broadway productions, however, the sculpture’s popularity earned it an extended engagement through the end of September before finally departing in October.

A Memorable Piece of Public Art

In our great city, there is always something new to discover. Whether you are a lifelong New Yorker or a first-time visitor, it is surprisingly easy to overlook some of the city’s most interesting landmarks and public art displays. However, if you happened to walk along Broadway past Lincoln Center during the summer of 2017, there was absolutely no way you were going to miss the Hippo Ballerina. Hopefully, one day she will make a return appearance.