Congratulations to Deborah Goffe of Hartford, CT, for being awarded one of the New England Foundation for the Arts’ 2023 Rebecca Blunk Fund. Each recipient receives $5,000 in unrestricted funding.
The Rebecca Blunk Fund was established in 2014 in memory of Rebecca Blunk (1953-2014) and celebrates her 29 years of service to the New England Foundation for the Arts and honors her desire to support artistic creation, connection, and curation. The Fund awards annual grants to New England artists whose work demonstrates creative excellence and deep community engagement.
Deborah Goffe is a dance artist, educator, and performance curator. In 2002, she founded Scapegoat Garden as her vehicle for her creative work, exploring human connections and embodied experience in relationship to spaces, communities, identities and interdisciplinarity. Her work has been featured across New England, New York, and internationally in Finland, Italy, and Cape Verde. As an educator, Deborah has taught at a number of institutions across the country and internationally. She is currently Executive Director of Austin Arts Center and Artist-in-Residence of Theater and Dance at Trinity College.
Congratulations to Ming Min Hui on her appointment as Boston Ballet’s new Executive Director. Hui has been serving as interim director since the departure of former Executive Director Meredith (Max) Hodges in July. Hui first joined Boston Ballet in 2015 as Chief of Staff through the Harvard Business School Leadership Fellows Program, leading significant capacity-building initiatives such as the upgrade of Boston Ballet’s website and technology infrastructure and the relocation and expansion of Boston Ballet School’s state-of-the-art Newton Studio. As the Ballet’s Chief Financial Officer since 2019, Hui helped steward Boston Ballet’s financial and operational stability through the COVID-19 pandemic, while providing leadership in the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Congratulations to Pantos Project Dance for opening up their own space at 14 Warren St Unit 3 in Waltham! Check out their studio and pop in for a class!
The Field Center hosts their second annual Summer Contact Improvisation Festival featuring 6 days of intensives, classes and jams exploring and training in Contact Improvisation Monday, August 21-Sunday, August 27. The intensive with Nita Little runs Monday through Thursday with daily focused training and nightly facilitated Jams. Friday through Sunday, the festival moves into the open weekend format with presentations, classes and open music jams. Live accompaniment by Lily Gelfand. Two classes on Friday with Sarah Konner and two classes on Saturday with Funda Gul.
Don’t miss A Dance At Halibut Point Quarry for free. Alison Cook-Beatty will present Murmurations, a dance that follows the migration paths of 5 different bird species Tuesday, August 22, 3–4 PM, at the Babson quarry inside of Halibut State Park in Rockport. In case of rain, the event will be cancelled and rescheduled for Wednesday, August 23.
Gaga classes with Ana Harmon return to Vivid Oblivion on Tuesday, August 22. Class happens on Tuesdays, 6-7 PM at 288 Norfolk St., Cambridge. If interested in volunteering in exchange for attendance, email Ana at ana.harmon@gmail.com
Join this year’s Windhover fund-raising gala for an evening filled with live dance, delightful food and music. You’ll be well fed, and well entertained. Wednesday, August 23, 5-9 PM at the Windhover Center for Performing Arts, Rockport.
The final summer performance at the Hatch Shell on Boston’s Esplanade is Landmarks Annual “Dance Night: Beethoven to Gottschalk” featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 and Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty, along with performances from Jean Appolon Expressions, Sayat Nova Dance Company, and Principal Dancer of Boston Ballet, Chyrstyn Mariah Fentroy. Wednesday, August 23, 7 PM.
Join Alison Cook-Beatty Dance for a workshop in the morning and performance at night! Accompanied by live music Modern class includes the exploration of movement concepts like fall & release, space & time, unison, sequence opposition, and dance energies. Thursday, August 24, 9:00-10:30 AM. Then, catch the company performance at 7:30 PM, also performed on Friday, August 25, 7:30 PM. ACB will perform Murmuration, an excerpt of Magnetic Temptations, Song of Thunder, and Messages in Time.
The final week of the Jacob’s Pillow Festival is here! Closing off the festival are Tulsa Ballet at the Henry J. Leir stage and Compagnie Käfig at the Ted Shawn Theatre. Wednesday, August 23-Sunday, August 27.
Join Valeriia in a hip-hop on heels pop up on Thursday, August 24, 7:30-9:00 PM at the Multicultural Arts Center in East Cambridge.
The Provincetown Dance Festival on Sam’s Stage will feature Jean Appolon Expressions, tap artists Khalid Hill and Orlando Hernandez, contemporary dancers of Rovaco from New York City, classical Indian dance artist Rachna Agrawal, Ballet Rhode Island and Boston Ballet 2! It happens at the Truro Center for the Arts, 3 Edgewood Way, Truro, on Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26, 7-9 PM.
Join one last summer Virtual Queer Dance Workshop on Zoom Saturday August 26 2-3 PM. This queer-only workshop is a chance for queer folks with even the vaguest interest in dance to connect. This week do some Irish dancing guided by Jo Troll and continue to build queer dance community. All queer identities, experiences and levels of dance are welcome! If you are unable to attend this workshop, but still interested in getting involved, you can note that on your RSVP. The workshop will have automated captions available. If you have any concerns or needs, please feel free to note them in your RSVP or email Jo Troll before the workshop at: jotrolldance@gmail.com.
Brunchers be ready to dance alongside Blas Cordero from NYC at the Magic Garden After Brunch. For table reservations text (786) 339 7575 or Instagram DM @afterbrunch_ent . Saturday, August 26, 3-11 PM at Sip Café, Post Office Square, Boston, MA.
Join Ladies First: All Female Free Style Dance Session brought to you by A Trike Called Funk for free! Saturday, August 26, 4-6 PM, at the Lot Lab, 115 Constitution Road, Charlestown, MA.
At a time of war, Boston’s Ukrainian community and their supporters come together for a day of joyful cultural experiences including traditional dance performances at The Boston Ukranian Festival Saturday August 26 2-9PM at the BU Beach Grounds at 270 Bay State Rd, Boston. Donations support humanitarian efforts. Wear blue and yellow!
Join Vinyl Jam & Salsa Social for a free Salsa Social under the stars as a celebration of the end of the season at The Dance Complex. Salsa y Control‘s Vinyl Jam Socials cater to the vintage sound of vinyl. There will be a lesson to brush up your salsa followed by tunes on the turntables, with rhythms that make salsa music so unique: Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Pachanga, Guaguanco and more. No dance experience required. Saturday, August 26, 6 PM at Starlight Square, Cambridge.
Join the Harvard Square Philippine American Alliance Ballroom Fundraiser and Dinner: Just keep on Dancing. The event will include line dancing and special guest performers. Be part of the legacy and let your presence be felt as we dance in unison for a brighter future. Saturday, August 26, 7-10 PM at the Foundry, 101 Rogers St., Cambridge. Email contact@hspaa.org for more information.
Bring your young one to Introductory Kathak workshops for kids. Kathak is dance form full of rhythm, expression, and storytelling – and a way for kids of all ages to develop confidence and creativity while also having fun. Taught by Chhandika artists and teachers Meenakshi Verma Agrawal and Maya Koorapaty, these workshops are a great way for your child to get a taste of classes before registering for the fall semester. Ages 8-12, are invited to join this Sunday, August 27, 9:00-10:30 AM at Mass Motion Dance, Brighton. For ages 5-7, join on Saturday, September 9, 11:30 AM-12:15 PM at Todos Dance Studio, Natick.
For all beginners ages 13+ Artistic Director Gretchen Hayden is offering a Kathak class at Mass Motion Dance, Sunday, August 27 9 AM to 12 PM.
Angkor Dance Troupe, the distinguished Lowell Cambodian Dance Troupe, joins forces with Selepak Khmer of Paris, France in a special collaboration that tells the story of Preah Ream, a Prince who was exiled to the forest through no fault of his own for fourteen years. Following many adventures, including the abduction of his wife Neang Seda by the evil giant Reap, Preah Ream eventually rescues her with the help of an Army of monkeys guided by Hanuman. Preah Ream and Neang Seda return home triumphantly, and the Prince reclaims his throne.. This free, family-friendly event will take place during Lowell’s Summer Music Series at Boarding House Park in Lowell on Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 6 PM.
Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project presents its fifth anniversary season! Watch the culmination of their three-week residency this August: a weekend of live performances by dancers and emerging choreographers from all over the East Coast. Featuring works by Haley Andrews, Jay Breen, Deanna Gerde, Juliana Godlewski, Theresa Jimmerson, and Jessi Stegall. Sunday, August 27, 1 PM & 5 PM at the Ballet RI Black Box Theater, 825 Hope St, Providence, RI.
BDA seeks volunteers for our Open Call Audition/Dancer Health Day. Volunteers assist with registration, set-up, and day-of logistics. If you are able to bring a laptop/tablet that is preferred. Event is Sunday, September 10, 9 AM-4 PM at Mass Motion Dance, Brighton. Flexible hours: volunteers may be asked to arrive prior to start time and/or leave after event is over. We will also need assistance with another BDA event on Friday, September 22 starting at 7:30 PM. Join us by contacting Carmen at crizzo@bostondancealliance.org. Have fun and help build our wonderful dancing community!
Jean Appolon Expressions is seeking male presenting dancers to join the JAE professional company. Professional training in Haitian Folkloric/African Diasporic dance, Horton modern, and contemporary techniques is preferable. Must be a powerful and musical mover with strong partnering and improvisation skills. Seeking mature, open, and dedicated artists with an interest in growing with JAE long term. If interested, please send your headshot and performance resume to bisi@jeanappolonexpressions.org
Interested in joining Urbanity’s Creative Class? Urbanity is offering both video auditions and In-Studio auditions on Sunday, August 27, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM at UDHQ. They’re looking for dancers with training in contemporary dance, as well as expertise in other genres. All are welcome, so come, even if for an inspiring class! Auditions are free-of-charge.
The Boston Globe’s Fall Preview issue comes out September 10 and writer Karen Campbell would like to give local dance as much play as there is room. Please send her information on upcoming concerts between September 10 and November 19 as soon as you can (Monday, August 28 at the absolute latest) – karencampbell4@rcn.com. Please include: What (title, basic content info), Who (creators, performers), When (dates and time), Where, How much and Website for more information.
Through the New England Dance Fund, NEFA will award grants of $500 to $1,000 directly to choreographers who identify and articulate an important opportunity that will significantly impact aspects of their dance making or advance their role within the regional New England dance landscape. Deadline is September 15.
The Foundation for Metrowest 2023 Arts & Culture applications are open! Their Arts & Culture Grant Program provides one-time general operating grants to nonprofits whose primary mission is to provide access to arts and cultural initiatives in the region to create a vibrant community and promote a sense of belonging for all residents. Submit by Friday, September 15, 5 PM. If you have any questions, please email the Program Team at grants@foundationformetrowest.org.
Calling all Performing Artists for Works-in-Progress: Mark DeGarmo Dance seeks applicants for its Virtual Salon Performance Series for Social Change 2024, Broadcast via Zoom on Thursdays February 1, March 7, & April. 4 at 7 PM ET with the theme Dance as Social Rescue & Healing. Apply by Friday, September 15, 11:59 PM.
Dance/USA invites Letters of Interest from dance artists and organizations interested in working with Archival Fellows in the Dance/USA 2024 Archiving and Preservation Fellowship Program, generously supported by funding from the Mellon Foundation. To submit a Letter of Interest, complete this form by September 20, 11:59pm PST/ September 21, 2:59 am EST.
Calling all experts and enthusiasts: join the Performing Wellness Speaker Series, a unique platform that bridges the worlds of performing arts and healthcare. Passionate individuals from both the performing arts community and healthcare providers are invited to submit their proposals for insightful talks. The inaugural event in September will kick off with a special focus on dance educators. Submit your proposals today!
Keep your eyes peeled for the registration links for Boston Dance Alliance’s 2023 Open Call Audition and Dancer Health Day which will happen on Sunday September 10 at Mass Motion in Brighton, just in time for you to start your dance season! We still need volunteers so contact Carmen at crizzo@bostondancealliance.org
Best wishes,
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Debra Cash, Executive Director