Celebrating our Dance Community

The National Endowment for the Arts’ 2022 awards included these Massachusetts organizations:

• Boston Ballet
• Jacob’s Pillow
• Ballet Rox
• Urbanity Dance
• Abilities Dance

And our partners

• Boston Center for the Arts (BDA’s partner in the Boston Dancemakers Residency)
• Edvestors (BDA partner in arts education for the Boston Public Schools)
• Open Door Arts (BDA partner in disability arts)

Also, congratulations to these dance organizations awarded $22,000 Youth Reach grants for their arts education efforts by the Mass Cultural Council:

• Angkor Dance Troupe
• BalletRox
• Berkshire Pulse
• Hyde Square Task Force
• OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center

And special cheers to

• The Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs and to  Partners for Youth with Disabilities for their work of inclusion.

Finally, congratulations to the artist cohort for Danza Orgánica’s We Create! 2022 Festival Fellowship:

• Ayo Walker
• Black Pruitt
• Cassandre Charles
• Clara Auguste Mohagen
• Danza Orgánica
• Kera Washington
• María Servellón
• Yaraní del Valle Piñero
• Zahra A. Belyea / Alia Croley
• Guest Artist: Isaura Oliveira

As the Omicron spike continues, please check websites/social media for changes to any in-person events before heading out!

Boston Dance Theater’s ‘New Dances for Goethe Institut Boston‘will be postponed to a later date due to covid. New dates are forthcoming.

See the Bolshoi Ballet perform
Jewels in theaters near you! This triptych was inspired by Balanchine’s visit to the famous jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels on New York’s Fifth Avenue, and created as an homage to the cities and dance schools of Paris, New York and St. Petersburg that made a vital impact on the revered choreographer’s career.

Stream Ailey on PBS from now until February 8th. Discover the legendary choreographer Alvin Ailey whose dances center on the Black American experience with grace, strength and beauty. Featuring previously unheard audio interviews with Ailey, interviews with those close to him and an intimate glimpse into hip hop master Rennie Harris working closely with the Ailey company as he creates Lazarus.

• Mass Cultural Council Seeks Public Input on Cultural Sector COVID Relief. The Commonwealth’s ARPA Spending Plan includes $60M to aid artists and cultural organizations in pandemic recovery; The Mass Cultural Council is hosting a virtual Public Input Session on Monday, January 24, 2022, from 4pm to 6pm, to solicit public comment on how the $60 million in the state’s ARPA spending plan to aid artists and cultural organizations with pandemic recovery should be utilized and invested.

  They are seeking feedback from all stakeholders to determine what types of assistance programs are considered most helpful or necessary by artists and cultural organizations. Those who prefer to submit written comments can do so until 5:00pm on Monday, February 7, 2022.

• The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture is currently accepting applications for Opportunity Fund grants! This year, they’re prioritizing communities that have been most impacted by COVID-19, artists from demographics that saw the most economic impact due to COVID-19, and artistic professions that were most impacted (e.g. performing and teaching artists — which includes dance!).They’re awarding $5,000 Artist Career Development grants to artists looking for support for artistic projects, artistic materials, or professional development opportunities. They’re also awarding $10,000 Community Arts Experience grants to support free, public art experiences happening in Boston neighborhoods. This grant is intended for individual creative workers and groups of artists, not arts organizations. If you are an artist, teaching artist, creative worker, cultural practitioner, or artist collective that would be a good fit for this grant, please apply by January 28 at 5PM. They have a social media toolkit here with materials you can share. Have questions? More information about the program can be found at boston.gov/opportunity-fund.

• Boston AIR 2022 applications are now open! The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture invites artists, organizers, and cultural workers practicing in all disciplines to apply to a 15-month-long residency with the City of Boston. Artists receive $37,000 in artist stipends and up to $10,000 for project materials. This Call to Artists is open to all artists, organizers, and cultural workers, aged 18 and over with demonstrated experience working on civic issues whether through community organizing, cultural work, or social artistic practice. Individuals working in any and all media are encouraged to apply. Full-time City of Boston employees are not eligible to apply. Stay tuned for info sessions!

• The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture is hiring an Administrative Assistant and Communications Intern