Dance Champions – and continuity!

Performances

Dr. Shannon, a bald Black man with a goatee wearing glasses and a white physician's coat embroidered with his name, sits in front of a shelf of books.

Nominations for the 2023 Dr. Michael Shannon Dance Champion award are open!

This award, created in 2004 and renamed in honor of the late, beloved physician and dancer who served as President of the Boston Dance Alliance board, recognizes a member of the metropolitan Boston dance community over the age of 60 who has made a great contribution to Boston’s dance landscape and whose body of work constitutes a significant legacy. You may nominate up to three individuals.

Deadline for nominations is Friday, February 10 at midnight. Propose the grantee here 

Check out the list of prior awardees, who will vote on the person to join their distinguished list!

 

Stage Source logo in purple and light green.

Boston Dance Alliance was sad to learn that Stage Source, our sister organization for the theatre community, is ceasing operations after 37 years.

For many years, BDA premium members took advantage of Stage Source’s Circle of Friends card, which offered two theatre tickets for the price of one. Stage Source held a successful job fair and was a source of audition information for theatre professionals and convened frank conversations about gender, diversity, and sexual harassment. We applaud their record of care and achievement.

We want to take this opportunity to reassure you that BDA will continue to serve, support and celebrate all aspects of the Boston dance community. As we emerge from Covid, we are clear that our unique programs and timely information for dancers, choreographers, dance teachers, studios and dance lovers remain vital to the resilience of our sector.

So join us if you’re not yet a member, make a donation (and see if your employer will match your gift), share your workshop and performance information so that we can amplify it, and let us know how we can help keep the Boston area dancing.

 

 

Drika, a white woman with hair flowing over her shoulders smiles as she reaches both arms out to her sides in a welcoming gesture.

Congratulations and thank you to tap dancer and producer Drika Overton who is retiring from the seacoast institution she built 13 years ago in Kittery, Maine The Dance Hall. 

 

Poster with the words "Fight the Power How Hip Hop Changed the World" in orange and yellow, underneath an orange and yellow illustration of a BLM fist holding a microphone up.

The Chuck D-produced PBS docuseries “Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World” will premiere Tuesday, January 31, 2023, the network said Wednesday. Watch the trailer now.

 

Screening of a dance film with audience members seated facing the screen

Join Motion State Dance Film Series: Playing Favorites for an eclectic group of short experimental dances created specifically for film at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford next Wednesday, February 1, 7 PM It’s free and reservations are encouraged.

 

Ballroom with multiple pairs dancing together and a table with snacks is at the lower corner.

At the first 2023 edition of The Harvard Milonga, Harvard Tango is delighted to welcome dancers back to the beautiful Barker Center Cafe at 12 Quincy Street. A rotunda with high windows, a pristine hardwood floor, tables, and a true circle for a perfect ronda right in the heart of Harvard’s campus. Thursday, February 2, 6:30-7:30 PM: pre-milonga int/adv class with Thomas & Mary Ellen; 7:30-10:30 PM: milonga.

 

Photo of 5 BalletX dancers on pointe in an arabesque and wear9ing black sparkly leotards.

Join the Master Class with BalletX‘s Associate Artistic Director, Tara Keating, at the Dance Complex. The workshop will consist of a traditional ballet class with barre and center work, followed by company repertory. Friday, February 3, 4:00–5:30 PM.

 

Rueda poster with event information written in blue and red over a white background with a centered photo of rueda dancers in two circles dancing

Boston Rueda is excited to announce its first Rueda Structures workshop on Friday, February 3, 6-8 PM at the Cambridge Foundry. Starting with Rueda Cruzada and Rueda Echo. Level up your Rueda with this fun and energetic workshop. All levels welcome. Email BR@bostonruedadance.com for more info.

 

Studio decorated with an outer space theme and group of young dancers in blue leotards and skirts stand on colorful spots.

BalletRox is having an Open House on Saturday, February 4, at both Vine Street (9 AM-12 PM) and Spontaneous Celebrations (12-3 PM). Families can observe dance classes in action, take a trial dance class, and talk to staff at both locations. Additionally, at Spontaneous Celebrations, they will be hosting a Musical Theatre Workshop.

 

Dancers lean away from each other in a counter balance over a bench in front of a glass building.

Lindy and jazz dancer Katie Cobalt presents her first workshop in North America Saturday, February 4, 2-4 PM and 5-7 PM; Sunday, 10 AM-12 PM and 2-4 PM at Salsa y Control Dance Studio, 161 Harvard Ave, Ste 13B Allston.  Saturday’s workshops will focus on improvising and co-creating. Sunday‘s attention will be geared towards riff and self-expression. Both days are designed for intermediate/advanced dancers.

 

Poster in yellow and red with name of event and two dancing men in circles, one wearing a white hat and red tee shirt and the other a white shirt and tie under a dark vest.

Guateque Cubano first Saturday monthly Cuban Dance Social is Saturday, February 4 starting at 7:30 PM for casino, son, rueda and rumba at 351 Summer Street in Somerville.

 

Two BalletX dancers: one on pointe with long blonde hair lunges over right leg and reaches arm towards the other dancer who jumps with both legs bent towards chest, reaching downward at blonde dancer and rounding other arm behind upperbody.

BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet company, closes Global Arts Live’s winter festival on Saturday, February 4 at 8PM at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre with the Boston premieres of Credo by Matthew Neenan, Become a Mountain  by Justin Peck, and Exalt  by Jennifer Archibald.

 

Project 31 dancers' performance photo rotated 90 degrees so that the ground is on the left edge of the image. Event information is written in white over black background and a big number 5 is on the right side of the image.

Project31 is celebrating their 5th anniversary at BU Dance Theater. See the culmination of new and returning works on Saturday, February 4, 7 PM and Sunday, February 5, 2 PM!

 

Detritus Dance dancers look up at their hands in an embrace.

In the Ether is a multimedia contemporary dance duet exploring the limiting and empowering mythologies around womanhood in collaborators’ Claire Lane and Caroline Bradbury’s religious upbringings. The work draws heavily from Roman Catholic iconography of biblical women depicted in visual art to trace how organized spirituality has impacted the lives of women in history and in the dancers’ personal lives. The performance will be followed by a participatory artist talk-back. Saturday, February 4, 8 PM at the Dance Complex.

 

Actor sits over a box, interlaces fingers and smiles while a projection in the background shows a desktop.

The Theater Offensive Queer (Re)public Residency Program is dedicated solely to queer & trans artists of color, whose work demonstrates artistic vigor and inquisitive exploration of their personal queer aesthetics. Two levels have different criteria.  Apply by Tuesday, January 31.

 

Three dancers on pointe in sous-sous on different levels of a staircase outdoors, wear white long tutus and look up over their right arms reaching on a high diagonal.

The Asian American Ballet Project seeks a costume designer to design and create costumes for inaugural performance on July 7, 2023 at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center. The Asian American Ballet Project seeks to employ artists, including costume designers, of Asian descent.

 

Three dancers on stage: one opens arms out wide while other seems to duck underneath one of the arms; the third dancer observes further back.

Join Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion Institute 2022–2023: 1-Year Intensive. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will have a certificate of completion and an opportunity to apply for inclusion in the roster of esteemed JPCiM® Artists. Apply by Tuesday, January 31.

 

Cultural Space Fund poster with application information written in black inside a white box

The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture created the Cultural Space Fund as its first funding program for space-related needs. The Fund seeks to support projects which:
* Increase the amount of physical space in Boston secured for cultural uses long-term;
* Increase the power for artists, creative workers and cultural organizations as it relates to their spaces;
* Increase access to existing cultural spaces (including physical access, affordability, operating hours).
Projects that support spaces for underrepresented communities, and projects that address market gaps will be prioritized.

 

Ballerina bends one leg and extends the other back and reaches one arm up while the other hand holds the barre.

The Children’s Ballet & Movement Co. in Hadley Ma. seeks guest ballet teachers for February. Students range from ages 10-14 years old, depending on day and time of class. $75/hour plus gas. Details at Cassieferr@gmail.com

 

Illustration of a dancer's silhouette with feet turned in and hands flexed by their sides.

Seeking Dance Studio Share Partner (Boston, JP, West Rox, et al). Seeking a partner (or two) to share the cost of renting a studio for about an hour 2-3 days a week evenings and/or on the weekends. The two spaces explored recently are the Urbanity Central space at 725 Harrison Ave, Boston ($30/hr); and the smallest space at the Tony Wiiliams Dance Studio in JP @ 284 Armory St ($35/hr). As spaces and individuals’ schedules aren’t precisely fixed week to week, there needs to be some flexibility on everyone’s part. If interested, contact Carol at carol@carolannparker.net.

 

Remember to nominate your favorite Dance Champion today!

You don’t have to be a BDA member to nominate but your membership — at the tier that is right for you  — helps us do our work!

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Debra Cash, Executive Director