Every year since 2014, Brooklyn’s own minor league baseball team, the Cyclones, have turned their Maimonides Park into a hilarious homage to the legendary sitcom Seinfeld with their annual Seinfeld Night. This beloved event is packed with themed contests, prizes, games, and trivia, all celebrating the show about nothing that everyone loves. But let’s be honest, the highlight that truly gets fans on their feet is the Elaine Benes dance contest. Participants bravely step up to the plate, or rather, the field, to showcase their best rendition of Elaine’s infamous “full body dry heave set to music”. While we tip our hats to the Cyclones, it’s clear the real stars of the night are the Elaine dance hopefuls.
This past Saturday was no exception, bringing another unforgettable iteration of Seinfeld Night. Among the enthusiastic crowd was a Greenpoint local, who, inspired by the spirit of Elaine, decided to participate. Wearing an Oberlin College hat, a subtle nod to Elaine’s Orioles cap and last year’s winner (also an alum!), she jokingly anticipated carrying on the Oberlin legacy. Little did she know, she would forge an even cooler connection – she, Shannon Kintner, a Greenpoint resident, would be crowned this year’s supreme Elaine dancer! We caught up with Shannon to uncover the secret ingredients to her victorious Elaine dance performance.
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What sparked your decision to enter the Elaine dance contest, and what was your inspiration?
For years, attending Seinfeld Night has been on my radar. Knowing it’s a popular sell-out event, I started rallying friends back in spring to join me. Summer baseball games are just better with a big group! My inspiration to actually enter the dance-off was pure joy and playfulness. The Elaines on the field always look like they’re having an absolute blast. I’m a big believer in injecting more lighthearted, joyful play into our lives. It’s something often missing from our adult routines, so you have to seize those moments when they appear. I’m talking about the kind of fun that’s low-pressure, high-reward, uninhibited, and childlike. It’s not about content creation, side hustles, or any agenda. It’s just about pure, unadulterated joy.
Tell us about your planning process for both the costume and, crucially, the Elaine dance itself. You perfectly captured Elaine’s signature herky-jerky moves. Did some serious study sessions happen?
Haha—yes, there were definitely a few practice sessions! A couple of friends even offered coaching. Once I had the costume together, curls properly diffused to get that Elaine look, I felt ready to channel my inner Elaine and hit the field.
What was it like performing in front of a crowd of enthusiastic Seinfeld fans?
Wow, the crowd was incredible! I was absolutely ecstatic! There’s such a fantastic energy at minor league games – everyone is there to have a good time, and the stadium organizers really amplify that. It was pure joy to share the field with the other Elaines and really feed off the amazing enthusiasm from the fans.
Do you have a favorite Seinfeld episode or moment that stands out?
Choosing just one favorite is tough! Growing up, I loved the Festivus and Chinese Restaurant episodes. I also have a really special memory of watching the final episode live with my mom and aunt. Maybe this is a sign it’s time for a Seinfeld re-watch now that I’ve paid tribute to Julia Louis-Dreyfus in front of 7,000 fans!
Being Greenpointers, we have to ask about your Greenpoint connection. How long have you lived in the neighborhood, and what do you love most about it?
I’ve called Greenpoint home since 2018! After the pandemic, I worked in a few local restaurants and bars, and the incredibly neighborly atmosphere of the establishments and the patrons was such a welcome change after years of working in other parts of the city. I love that I can walk or bike down the street and wave to people I know at all the local shops and markets. I love chatting with the farmers at the McCarren & McGolrick Farmers’ Market, knowing my bartenders’ and baristas’ names and lives, and having my tailor, cobbler, nail salon, hardware store, diner, and library all within a 15-minute walk. The building I live in is also a rare gem in NYC – my fellow tenants and I have a group chat for borrowing sugar or lemons, we hang out on the stoop, and walk each other’s dogs. I’m also friendly with neighbors up and down the block, some who are lifelong Greenpointers and some who are newer to the area. It’s a truly special little pocket of the city, and I feel so lucky to call it home!
Photo of Shannon Kintner, winner of the Elaine Dance Contest at Seinfeld Night, Brooklyn Cyclones, showcasing her trophy and joyful expression.
