Table of Silence Project Marks the 25th Anniversary of 9/11
Updated: 5 hours ago
Buglisi Dance Theatre and Lincoln Center presented the 16th annual Table of Silence Project on September 11, 2026, at Josie Robertson Plaza.
On the morning of September 11, 2026, the Table of Silence Project marked its 16th year and the 25th anniversary of 9/11. More than 170 artists gathered at Lincoln Center for a ritual performance and call to action for peace.
Dedicated to those lost on 9/11, those affected in the years since and all who continue to be impacted by crises around the world, the Table of Silence transformed Josie Robertson Plaza into a sacred space for remembrance, reflection and healing.
“In our increasingly fractured and warring world, in which modern life is growing ever more isolated, divided and tribal, the need for sharing the story of Table of Silence, and its universal themes of compassion, unity, and peace that brings together the collective humanity of all living beings, is more profound than ever. One step at a time together, we come closer to peace for all humanity."
— Jacqulyn Buglisi, a dear friend of DO40!
Evolution and Action
Artistic Director Jacqulyn Buglisi conceived and choreographed the Table of Silence Project in 2011 as a multicultural performance ritual for peace commemorating the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001. The work was created to unite audiences in a shared experience of healing while honoring all those affected by terrorism, war and systemic oppression.
Jacqulyn Buglisi’s “leadership and vision in creating the Table of Silence Project is a shining model of citizen artistry,” said Juilliard President Damian Woetzel when presenting her with the 2022 Juilliard President’s Medal.
Since its inaugural performance, the ritual has brought together nearly 1,800 dancers. Its music has grown from a single drum and flute to an ensemble featuring conch, violin, saxophone, bass drums, gong and vocalists. Livestreams have carried the performance to audiences in all 50 states and 235 countries and territories.
Over time, the Table of Silence has grown beyond its original commemoration of those lost on 9/11 to become an annual ritual of remembrance, renewal and action for peace.
The choreography was inspired by ancient rituals and the power of mythic stories. Its movement vocabulary and formations drew from symbols with deep ritual significance, including sacred geometry and concentric circles. The circular Revson Fountain represented eternity, purity and the continuity of the life cycle.
At the sound of the conch shell, dancers formed three concentric circles, creating a peace labyrinth and embodying the mandala’s transformation of suffering into joy. At 8:46 a.m., performers and spectators observed a moment of silence.
“We raise our voices, move, create the sacred geometry that connects us to what it means to be human, and dance our prayers as a beacon of light for peace and wellbeing,” said dancer and Table of Silence “Peace Warrior” Linda Mittel.
Requiem
In recognition of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the program opened with an excerpt from Jacqulyn Buglisi’s masterwork Requiem, created in the aftermath of the 2001 attacks.
The dancers wore white silk costumes created especially for the Table of Silence Project, adding another dimension of remembrance and sanctity to the morning’s ritual.
From Ritual to Film
The Table of Silence is more than a performance. It is a living ritual of remembrance, unity and peace.
A documentary currently in production is preserving the voices, gestures, stories and extraordinary gatherings of artists that have shaped the project, allowing its message to reach audiences around the world and live on for generations. Learn more about the documentary.
Watch the Recorded Performance
The 2026 Table of Silence Project was presented at Lincoln Center on September 11 and shared with audiences around the world through a livestream produced by Nel Shelby Productions.
Buglisi Dance Theatre gratefully acknowledges leadership support from the Arnhold Foundation and the community partnerships essential to the realization and continued reach of this monumental work.
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