Festival and Fun for Dance Lovers of All Ages!

Welcome Jug Chokshi to his new role as Interim Executive Director at New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). Chokshi, who has been the organization’s chief operating officer, will serve while NEFA conducts it nationwide search to succeed the recently departed Cathy Edwards. And congratulations to Jane Preston who will add to her responsibilities during this phase. We know that NEFA’s commitment to serving the dance community nationwide remains in committed hands!

The Yard is hosting performances by their residents! Larissa Velez-Jackson/LVJ Performance Co. performs on June 7 at 7 PM and  Lucky Plush Productions has their performances June 11 & 12 at 7 PM. Both performances take place at Patricia N. Nanon Theater.

 

The jukebox comes to life and you won’t be able to stay in your seat when the 2022 season opens the week with Smokey Joe’s Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller on the North Shore. Their generation-defining songs provided hit after hit for icons like Elvis Presley, Ben E. King, the Coasters, and the Drifters. June 7-19.

 

Somerville Arts Council’s Art Assembles AiR Program is hosting Claire Lane & Caroline Bradburry as detrius Dance, Rebecca McGowan & Jackie O’Reilly, and Brandy White in in-progress showings, Show #2. Catch them at the Center for the Arts at the Armory, Wednesday, June 8 at 7PM.

 

Virtual BCA Run of the Mills features dancer Emily Beattie, spoken word poet U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo, designer Rosa Weinberg, and a mysterious organism guiding you through a playful ritual to move beyond our realities on Thursday June 9 at noon on Zoom.

Sassy, sultry and celebratory, Ain’t Misbehavin opens June 9 and runs through June 26. The humor and infectious energy of the inimitable Thomas “Fats” Waller shines through this Tony Award-winning musical celebration!

Folk Art Center of New England is hosting a Hungarian Dance Camp at Pinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MA with Dénes Takácsy and Diana Santana Cadena from June 9 to 12. This long weekend offers Hungarian improvisational dance workshops, evening dance parties, and a variety of special events with live music. The focus will be on teaching Szucsági Román Forgatós dances from the Kalotaszeg region.

 

BAMSfest is back! Come to the Playstead Field at Franklin Park on Saturday June 11 from noon until 8 to celebrate Afrocentric identity and Black culture. The Beat Feet Dance Floor  is open until 6 and no experience is required.

 

Samāgata – A Coming Together of the dance and dancer, of the artist and the audience, and of three different dance forms from the Indian tradition. Saturday, June 11, 7:30 PM at the Andover Town House (Old Town Hall) 20 Main Street, Andover.

 

Community Day at Jacob’s Pillow Everyone is invited to this pre-Festival, family-friendly afternoon featuring performances by Berkshire County regional dance artists, movement classes, dance-themed children’s activities, and a special performance by Cuban flamenco dancer/choreographer, Irene Rodríguez. A highlight will be the public’s first look at the newly-expanded backstage of the renovated Ted Shawn Theatre Saturday, June 11 12-3 PM

 

Native American Pow-Wow  and craft fair under the auspices of the Wollomonuppoag Indian Council happens in Attleboro on June 11 and 12 10-5 PM with traditional native drumming and singing, dance competition, public dances, shopping, raffles and more.

 

The annual Boston Dragon Boat Festival happens this Sunday, June 12, on the Charles River at John Weeks Foot Bridge. Besides dragon boat races with teams from the US and Canada, the family-friendly festival also features Asian cultural performances, demonstrations, arts and crafts as well as Asian food vendors.

 

See works in progress by ten local choreographers through pitch sessions designed to propel them further towards realizing their ambitious dance creations. These aMaSSiT Momentum Sessions are a collaboration between Monkeyhouse and The Dance Complex and happen Sunday, June 12 5-6:30 PM and 7-8:30 PM at Complex@Canal in Kendall Square. Venue is fully mobility device accessible and ASL and other accommodations are available upon request.

 

BOMBAntillana is offering Bomba music and movement workshops! Through this workshop, you will learn basic Bomba movements, songs, instrumentation and history all in one, with Eli Pabon, founder of BOMBAntillana.
Sundays, June 12 & 19, 3-5 PM at Spontaneous Celebrations
45 Danforth St, Jamaica Plain.

 

Dance for Social Justice Community Residency
Join artists of Danza Orgánica in a 4-part workshop series exploring creative strategies for effective collaboration in our Pittsfield and Berkshire community.
All participants will be compensated for their time, active participation, and creative contributions.

Saturday, June 11, 3-6 PM
Sunday, June 12, 1-4 PM
Saturdays, July 2 & 9,1-4 PM
Saturday, July 9, 1-4 PM

Work-in-process sharings July 15 and 21.

ANNUAL CRYSTAL LAKE  DANCE & MUSIC CELEBRATION

is looking for dancers to perform some improv scores and wear Giant Puppets in their puppet parade around the lake in Newton Centre on Saturday, June 11, 1:00 – 2:30 PM beginning at Cronin’s Cove on Crystal Lake and proceeding to the Bathhouse.

Please let Karen Bray (617) 953-3937 or Julie Leavitt (617) 407-4290 know of your interest and availability by Thursday June 9 and be prepared for a rehearsal Friday, June 10th at 4:30 at the Crystal Lake bathhouse in Newton Centre.

The sun is shining brighter each day but it can’t outshine LaTasha Barnes! Check her performance at the international Swing Dance Championship of 2019!

 

Let BDA know about all your summer performance, workshop and class plans and we will share them with our large and varied community! The Pro/Motion newsletter is a free service we provide every week year round, but your BDA membership helps make it possible.

Thank you for all you do for dance!