"The 24/7 Diner" by Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington (FREE FOOD)
Company:
Works & Process
Across four nights this October, Works & Process will present free pop-up performances by the MasterZ at Work Dance Family at Free Food Refettorio Harlem, New York City’s only free restaurant. The organization opens its doors to serve vulnerable neighbors, steward a healthier, more just food system, and celebrates the cultural heritage and diversity around us.
A Works & Process commission, The 24/7 Diner by Black trans femme choreographer and ballroom Icon Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington envisions an all-night diner open to all. Blending street dance and theatrical storytelling, the work explores chosen family, resilience, and joy as acts of resistance, rooted in the spirit of ballroom culture. Like Refettorio Harlem, the work centers food as a source of both physical and metaphorical nourishment.
Works & Process at Free Food Refettorio Harlem
37 West 119th Street, New York, NY 10026
October 2, 7, 16, and 21, 2026
The event is open to all, free, and first-come, first-served.
5:15–6:45 pm
A gourmet sit-down dinner, prepped and served with love by a dedicated team
5:45–6 pm
Performance by MasterZ at Work Dance Family with Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington: The 24/7 Diner
The 24/7 Diner was commissioned by Works & Process and made possible, in part, by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and Mellon Foundation. The 24/7 Diner was developed in Works & Process Residencies at Modern Accord Depot (2024), Bethany Arts Community (2025), and The Campus at Marlboro Music (2026).
These performances are supported by The Evelyn Sharp Foundation.
Free Food at Refettorio Harlem serves as a place of connection, dignity and inclusion, opening its doors to serve vulnerable neighbors, steward a healthier, more just food system, and celebrate the cultural heritage and diversity around us. Throughout the week, the team rescues otherwise imperfect food from waste, recovering over 2,000 lbs of surplus ingredients and transforming them into 900+ nourishing meals a week, served with dignity to food-insecure and socially isolated communities. Their programs help alleviate hunger while connecting guests to supportive services, including a justice-impacted culinary program that trains formerly incarcerated individuals for careers in the kitchen. Each month, they host education, training, and cultural programs open to the public that create awareness around their cause and raise support for their mission.
Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington is an acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and creative director whose work has helped define the landscape of contemporary dance and ballroom culture over the past 15 years. Based in New York City, she is the visionary founder of the MasterZ at Work Dance Family and the House of Juicy Couture, both groundbreaking cultural institutions that have shaped generations of artists and leaders.
A five-time Ballroom Mother of the Year and current Mother of the House of Balenciaga, Courtney is celebrated not only for her precision choreography and bold artistic direction, but also for her deep commitment to community, mentorship, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices. Her choreographic work spans stage, screen, and institutional platforms, with notable credits including Legendary (HBO), Survival of the Thickest (Netflix), and the historic Fem Queen Honors at the Apollo Theater.
Her performances and curated works have been featured at Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Jacob’s Pillow, the Hudson Valley Dance Festival, and Times Square’s Trans Day of Visibility, as well as through Works & Process at the Guggenheim, among many others. She has been featured in A Sense of Shifting: Queer Artists Reshaping Dance and honored with awards including the Avis Pendavis Award, Teresa Mizrahi Award, and the NYC Senate Proclamation for her impact on the arts and LGBTQ+ communities.
Courtney continues to lead with vision, storytelling, and purpose—mentoring the next generation of dancers and cultural changemakers while pushing the boundaries of movement and identity in performance.
Works & Process Lead Donors
Lead funding provided by AG Foundation, Stuart H. Coleman and Meryl Rosofsky, Adam and Abigail Flatto, Christian Humann Foundation, Leon Levy Foundation, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Tino and Rajika Puri, Stephen Kroll Reidy, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Denise and Andrew Saul, The Evelyn Sharp Foundation, and The SHS Foundation.
Additional support provided by Jody and John Arnhold, Jeff and Susan Campbell, Cate Caruso, Paul Cronson, Lucy and Philip Dobrin, Elizabeth Sharp Edens and Wes Edens, The Fanwood Foundation, Bart Friedman and Wendy Stein, Nina Matis, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, Leon Polsky, Caroline M. Sharp, Randall Sharp, The Shubert Foundation, and Eugene and Jean Stark.
Works & Process is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
About Works & Process
The magic is in the process. We let you in on the secret.
Works & Process supports creative process from studio to stage so performing artists can create with dignity. We produce fully funded residencies and present behind-the-scenes events that blend artist discussion and performance highlights. Our events go beyond the stage, so that audiences can spectate, participate, and continue the conversation at hosted receptions. Each year, Works & Process produces more than 25 creative residencies with over a dozen partners in seven states. These out-of-town residencies provide 24/7 studio access, on-site housing, access to health insurance enrollment, industry-leading artist fees, and a transportation stipend to facilitate uninterrupted creative process. In over 100 Works & Process residencies, supporting over 1,000 artists, incubated works have gone on to receive awards, grants, and tour nationally—and internationally, with the U.S. State Department. Beyond Guggenheim New York, we also partner with organizations across New York City, including 92NY, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Jerome Robbins Dance Division, and Free Food Refettorio Harlem. During the fall, we curate and present free outdoor dance programs with Manhattan West. Works and Process, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID: 13-3592291 Stay connected: @worksandprocess
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