We LOVED having everyone at the
2023 BDA Open Call Audition and
Dancer Health Day!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Boston Dancemakers Residents Laila J. Franklin and Simon Montalvo. We also extend congratulations to this year’s BCA Dance LAB awardees Andrea Muniz, Cassie Wang and Gina Marte.
Congratulations
These organizations are working across one or more of the fund’s 5 pillar areas to advance racial equity in the Commonwealth.
Congratulations!
Congartulations!
To recipients of Mass Cultural Council Festival and Projects grant program with a $2500 grant to each.
Abilities Dance
Angel Dance Company
Angel Performing Arts
ANIKAYA/Akhra
Artisan Dance Academy
Asian American Ballet Project
BAMSfest
Boston Bhangra
Boston Dance Studios
Cambridge Carnival International
Chu Ling Dance Association
City Ballet of Boston
City Lights
CJT Dream Dance
Cultura Latina Dance Academy
Dance Therapy 508 & Entertainment
Navigating The Freelance Economy Webinar
The Entertainment Community Fund is hosting a Navigating The Freelance Economy – Best Practices for Freelancers in the Arts webinar. Learn from a panel of speakers from the performing arts and legal communities who will address some of the challenges freelancers face in managing their careers, including pros and cons of freelancing, pricing strategies and determining your rates. Thursday, September 28, 4:00–5:30 PM on Zoom
2023 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities
Join an exciting evening of performances, powerful speeches, storytelling and more at the 2023 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities! Presented in partnership with Governor Healey, Mass Humanities will recognize Margaret Burnham, Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, Kumble Subbaswamy and Elizabeth Bacon for their commitments to education, civil and human rights, community development and philanthropy. Catch the traditional Lion Dance performance by members of Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts (RICEMA) and close the evening with a special performance by dancers from The Flavor Continues, a 2022 Expand Massachusetts Stories grantee. Thursday, September 28, 6:30 PM at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Experience the Unexpected at Emerson
For twenty years, Dance Umbrella was the foremost presenter of contemporary dance in New England. Now you get to enjoy the memories. On Wednesday, September 20, 6:30-8:30 PM Jeremy Alliger invites you to “experience the unexpected” in photos and memorabilia at a special dance community reception at Emerson College Paramount Center Fourth Floor, 559 Washington Street, Boston.
Presence Practice
Join Faye Driscoll in Presence Practice. This workshop is a space of experimentation to loosen perceptual, physical, expressive and vocal rigidity and practice bringing the complexity of our full selves into the room. Thursday, September 21-Sunday, September 24 at the Field Center, VT
27th Annual Boston Loft Reunion
27th Annual Boston Loft Reunion is DJ Bruno’s last house event! This evening promises to be epic with a tribute to 80’s & 90’s House Music. Join for free on Friday, September 22, 5-8 PM, at the City Hall Plaza, Boston.
Butoh Theatre
New York City based French American Butoh Artist, Vangeline France, will be coming to Manifest Station Arts & Wellness Center in Storrs-Mansfield, CT to perform on Friday, September 22, 7 PM. She will also lead a 2-day workshop on Butoh, Sensuality, and the Nervous System on Saturday, September 23, 1:30-4:30 PM & Sunday, September 24, 1-4 PM. She will also present her book, Butoh: Cradling Empty Space, in a lecture evening, and have copies available for purchase and signing on Saturday at 6:30 PM
FREE wellness screening
Boston Dance Alliance has partnered with The Flavor Continues for a FREE wellness screening for street and club dancers and others on Friday, September 22, 2023, 7:30-10:00 PM at the Flavor Continues Studio 11 Bow Street 2nd Floor, Somerville. During your 30-minute session you’ll have an exam performed by physical therapist(s) familiar with working with dancers and the chance to meet with a physician who can answer questions and make referrals as needed. You must be 18+ to participate and while some walk-up registration may be available, pre-registration is strongly recommended.
PRAKRITI
Triveni Ensemble performs its first full-length dance presentation since the pandemic, coinciding with Neena Gulati’s recent accolade as the recipient of the “2023 Lifetime Achievement Award” by India New England. PRAKRITI showcases new choreography that features explosive footwork, graceful, yet powerful movement, and nuanced retelling of ancient Indian mythology in the styles of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi. Friday, September 22, 8 PM and Saturday, September 23, 3 PM at the Boston University Dance Theater. All proceeds will benefit Save Soil, a movement committed to addressing the global soil fertility crisis.
DELving into the Archives
DELving into the Archives workshop designed with Jacob’s Pillow Director of Preservation Norton Owen and Associate Archivist Patsy Gay, focuses on the wealth of material in the newly expanded Pillow archives. Participants explore the archives in interactive and embodied ways and have opportunities to apply the DEL methodology to bring dance history to life in innovative, culturally relevant, and creative ways. Join the workshop in person Saturday, September 23, 10 AM-1 PM at Jacob’s Pillow.
Popouri
Momentum at the Greenway continues! Join Jean Appolon Expressions at Armenian Heritage Park for Popouri, as they express their connection to this location through movement and dance. This work brings light to folkloric tradition and identity while uplifting how it can support the healing process. Saturday, September 23, 11 AM & 3 PM. Rain date: Sunday, September 24.
23rd South Boston Street Fest
The 23rd South Boston Street Fest features community organizations and live music, performances, food, kids’ activities and more. Two stages will offer live entertainment including Houston Bernard, Thomas Park, Guilty Pleasure, and the Late Risers, local dancers, and self-defense demonstrations. The festival has been rescheduled to Saturday, September 23, 11 AM-4 PM on East Broadway between I and L streets.
Raising Voices Festival: A Celebration of Music, Art, and the Power of Protest
Revolutionary Spaces presents the Raising Voices Festival: A Celebration of Music, Art, and the Power of Protest. To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, a vibrant, multi-disciplinary arts festival celebrates the power of protest throughout history. Washington Street from the Old State House to Old South Meeting House will be activated with experiences for people of all ages, including dancers Jaimé Yawa Dzandu and Jean Appolon Expressions, theatrical happenings, poets, beer garden & food, street art, New England Revolution soccer activities and more. Saturday, September 23, 11 AM-6 PM, & Sunday, September 24, 11 AM-5 PM
Dance for World Community
Dance for World Community returns to Harvard Square with 70 companies on five stages Saturday, September 23, 12-6 PM. Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre presents this free outdoor festival, in partnership with Massachusetts Peace Action, Cambridge Arts and Arrow Street Arts. There will also be free dance classes, food games and more. The day culminates with an outdoor dance party from 6-8 PM.
Aerials Workshop Spectacular with Tim & Jaime
Lindy hoppers are invited to join the 2-day Aerials Workshop Spectacular with Tim & Jaime. Day 1 will be a beginner-friendly introduction to Lindy Hop air steps while day 2 you’ll get to learn some high-flying air steps, including classic old-school moves, and a couple fun modern ones! Day 1: Saturday, September 23, 1-4 PM at Salsa y Control Dance Studio (161 Harvard Ave #13b, Allston) Day 2: Sunday, September 24, 2-5 PM at Joan Lorentz Park (in front of Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge).
Making a Plan in a Time of Uncertainty
Assets 4 Artists hosts Making a Plan in a Time of Uncertainty with Laura Baring Gould. Over two workshop sessions artists of all disciplines based in Franklin, Hampshire & Hampden Counties, MA will learn the importance of—and develop the building blocks for—a strategic plan for their creative career. Saturday, September 23, 1-5 PM (in person) in Northampton, MA & Tuesday, October 3, 6-8 PM (virtual).
Salsa Night
Salsa Night, a part of Fiesta en la Plaza, brings you a free salsa class by El Bonche in Boston and performance by Clave & Blues. Saturday, September 23, 5:00-8:30 PM, at City Hall Plaza, Boston.
Mulan
MULAN retells the quintessentially Chinese tale, spotlighting the warrior’s strength in her pursuit of love and peace. Mulan is selfless, wise, and understands her moral responsibility. Catch the dance drama Saturday, September 23, 7:30 PM and Sunday, September 24, 1:30 PM at the Boch Center.
Bulgarian Dance Party
Join Folk Arts Center of New England in a lively, hybrid Bulgarian Dance Party with Bulgarika. Saturday, September 23, 8-11 PM at Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont Street, Belmont, MA or virtually.
Pallandu
‘Pallandu‘ is a 4-day intensive workshop presented online by Chennai-based Karuna Sagari and is open to intermediate and advanced students in Bharatanatyam across the globe. In this workshop, participants will explore the Tamil Bhakti poem of Periyazhwar – Pallandu. Saturdays and Sundays, September 23, 24 & 30 and October, 1, 9:30 PM – Midnight EST online.
Krummelpap, Scandals Wrapped in Prayer
Krummelpap, Scandals Wrapped in Prayer (Krummelpap, Afval en Sunlightseepbaddens) is a devised dance-theater piece created and performed by Garage Dance Ensemble, which makes its home in a former mining area in the Namaqualand region of South Africa, not far from the border with Namibia. Set in a specific place and time about a particular brown community geographically far from our own lands, Krummelpap shares universal stories of young people reckoning with the past and defining and celebrating who they are and who they would like to be. Sunday, September 24, 7-8 PM at the Old South Meeting House.
Small Grants Trust Program
Apply to the The City of Boston’s Small Grants Trust Program. Grants range from $500 to $2,000 depending on availability of funds and demonstrated need. Applications are open until 5 PM on Friday, October 6. Organizations that received awards in the Spring/Summer round are ineligible to receive funds again in 2023.
Idea Swap
NEFA’s Idea Swap is the annual event for New England-based nonprofit cultural organizations and touring artists to network and share ideas for touring projects. This year, it happens in-person at the new Nashua Center for the Arts in southern New Hampshire on November 13, 10 AM-4 PM. Project Ideas deadline: October 11. Early Bird Registration deadline is October 19. Organizations may register up to three staff members. Capacity is limited so participants are strongly encouraged to register early.
Next Steps for Boston Dance
The Next Steps for Boston Dance grant cycle opens today, Monday, September 11! Dance-makers and circus artists of all genres and at all career levels are invited to apply. Grant value is over $12,500 including $5,000 in paid rehearsal space; $6,000 in implementation funds; and more.
Call for Arts Education Mentors
Call for Arts Education Mentors! Arts|Learning received funding to support novice arts educators over the next two years. Arts|Learning and DESE will collaborate with 10 arts mentors to create a professional development program for the Second Cohort (2023-24) of up to 80 arts educators. Fill out the application form and send a letter of interest to Jackie Carvey, New Arts Teacher Mentoring Network Manager; any additional questions, please email to New Arts Teacher Mentoring Network Director, Dr. Erin Zaffini. Enrollment deadline is Friday, September 15, or until all positions are filled so act today
Boston Cultural Council Organizational Grants
The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture is redesigning the Boston Cultural Council Organizational Grants. The application will open October 1, 2023. Please be on the lookout for more information. If you have any questions, you can email artsgrants@boston.gov
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