Hello BDA Community,
This year’s Olympic Games are making history in many ways, such as including Breaking for the first time. Team USA includes 4 break dancers (2 B-girls and 2 B-boys) who will compete August 9 and 10, respectively. Judges will compare two dancers at a time and score them considering 5 key elements: vocabulary, technique, musicality, execution and originality. I am excited to see dance get some recognition as an athletic practice and curious to see how that ripples down in other genres. It invites some reflection on how something subjective can be scored, how can dance as an art be valued, and the historic trajectory of break dancing from the Bronx in the 1970’s to the Paris Olympics in 2024. Follow along and witness the incredible technique, musicality and artistry these athletes promise to deliver.
Speaking of support and growth, let us know how we can continue to support you and your dance practice!
Warmly,
Carmen S. Rizzo, Operations and Membership Associate
BDA Member Events This Week
FREE! – Join the VLA Dance Workshop at the Gardner Museum. The Theater Offensive’s Queer (Re)Public Resident Artists River Guidry and Victoria Awkward will facilitate interactive workshops incorporating theater and dance, Boy Nirvana is Queering the Museum, DJ Rayvino is bringing the vibes to keep the energy high, and Des Bennet will help memorialize this moment through a quilting activation inspired by the AIDS Quilt! Thursday, August 1, 6 – 7 PM at the Jordan Garden, 25 Evans Way
Boston. First-come, first-served.
Deborah Mason Performing Arts Center presents the fourth annual Boston Tap Party. The annual celebration of the art of tap, brings top tap artists from across the country to Greater Boston, teaching all level classes (August 1-4) and capping the event with a “Faculty Showcase” performance. Saturday, August 3, 7 PM at The Arts at Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville). Tickets: $37.50
Janie Brendel & Friends will be performing a portion of their complete show, “Inspired”, a tribute to Howard Gilman, White Oak, and the dances it inspired. Tickets can be purchased in advance. Friday, August 2, & Saturday, August 3, 7:30 PM at Windhover Center for the Performing Arts, 257R Granite Street, Rockport. Tickets: $10-$20.
OnStage 360° is a performance series of dance work performed in the round, allowing for exciting experimentation by the choreographers and dancers. This year’s production features work in Fusion, Contemporary, Jazz, Bharathanatyam, Modern, Contemporary Ballet, and Flamenco with performances by Kevin Tenorio, Brett Bell, Jackie Bowden, Shriya Srinivasan, Sophie Constable & Isabelle Franco, Art UnEarths, Ava D’Eon, Abigail Ripin, Carlena Osgood, Laura Sanchez Flamenco Company, Kiniscape, Mosaic Dance Inc., and OnStage Dance Company. Saturday, August 3, 5 & 8 PM at the Foundry, 101 Rogers St., Cambridge. Tickets: $15-$20.
FREE! – Dance Therapy 508 & Entertainment hosts their 4th Annual United We Dance. Take beginner friendly classes for all ages and abilities, come out and support local vendors, see amazing performances and catch a vibe to the sounds of guest performer Michael A Gabriel! Sunday, August 4, 11 AM-5 PM, at Brooks Park 1 Oak St, Harwich.
FREE! – Join the Museum of Science for ¡A Bailar! – an evening at the intersection of movement, music, and community. Through the lens of artistic expression, a diverse roster of New England’s leading artmakers and dancers will amplify the importance of the arts and dance as a vehicle and catalyst for sustainability and cultural preservation. This conversation will explore how dance can address environmental justice through emphasizing the importance of community building and advancing equity. After the discussion, the Museum’s Blue Wing turns into a celebration of the sights and sounds of the Hispanic and Latinx culture and community featuring lessons, performances and audience demonstrations, dancing to DJ music, and more! Wednesday, July 31, 7:30 PM at 1 Science Park, Boston.
This week at Jacob’s Pillow, Camille A. Brown & Dancers takes over the Ted Shawn Theatre, Wednesday-Sunday. The Henry J. Leir Stage hosts Emma Cianchi for a special one-night-only performance on Wednesday, July 31 followed by Bindlestiff Family Cirkus on Thursday, August 1. House of Jit & a Lady in the House Dance Co. take the outdoor stage on Friday, August 2, leaving it for David Dorfman Dance on Saturday and Sunday, August 3 & 4. David Dorfman also offers a free Senior workshop alongside Lisa Race on Sunday. Additionally, the Pillow hosts Snakehips in our DNA, a free, open-gallery experience where visitors can explore the trajectory of dance from the Harlem Renaissance to the present through a stunning video installation of Black movement artists, Wednesday-Sunday; and an All Styles Dance Battle where dancers representing a wide range of styles—including Festival artists, dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, regional street artists, and more—compete on Friday, August 2.
Feet Keep the Beat Festival continues Wednesday, July 31, 7-9 PM with a FREE Flamenco Tablao jam at ROOTED Armory Café (donations welcome). Catch the World Premiere with various percussive dance performances Friday, August 2, 8 PM at the Arts at the Armory Performance Hall. Tickets: $35 (discount available for BDA Members). Wrap up the festival with FREE Community Workshops & Dance Off. Sunday, August 4, 3-6 PM at the Arts at the Armory Performance Hall.
FREE! – FUTURE FEST will transform Boston’s City Hall Plaza into an interactive playground of the future, featuring multi-sensory live performances, participatory light art, and a vibrant DJ dance party. Saturday, August 3, 8-11 PM, Boston’s City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Square, Boston.
FREE! – Calling Berkshire County seniors! Explore line dancing, disco, and improvisation with acclaimed choreographers David Dorfman and Lisa Race. Seniors with any level of dance experience (or none!) can find joy and discovery in this workshop, navigating positive change by dancing through life with each other. Pre-registration encouraged. Sunday, August 4, 5:00-6:30 PM at The Common Room at Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First Street, Pittsfield.
Join co/motion in their pop-up class series, open to the community, Monday, August 5, with Keerati Jinakunwiphat and Thursday, August 8, with Wesley Ensminger, 6:30-8:00 PM at the Foundry, 101 Rogers St., Cambridge. Registration: $20/class.
FREE! – This summer, you can enjoy Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, and Cumbia at Northampton’s Salsa in the Park. Join McCoy Jamison, a renowned dance instructor and DJ, DJ Bongohead, spinning rare vinyl from his collection, and the Salsa Train Orquestra, a vibrant Salsa music group. Tuesdays, August 6, 13, 27 & September 3 and Saturday September 7, 6-8 PM at Pulaski Park, 240 Main Street, Northampton, MA.
Boston Dance Theater‘s annual Summer Immersion Project (August 26-30) taking place at Northeast Arts, is designed as a rigorous training experience for motivated dancers, ages 18 and older, within a professional contemporary repertory dance company environment. Application deadline is July 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM. Additionally, the final day will include an Open Call Company Audition on from 9:30-11:30 AM.
Tryout for NAZAR Bollywood Dance Troupe in person! Nazar is back and ready to hit the Boston dance scene once more! After a great return year with performances (including in Greece), they look to recruit more members to the Nazar family. No experience necessary. Thursday, August 1, 8 PM at The Dance Complex, 536 Mass Ave., Cambridge. Please arrive at least 15 mins before auditions to check in. Pre-registration required. If you are interested in joining Nazar, but are unable to make it, please email: nazarbollywood@gmail.com. Instructions for online auditions will be sent out separately.
Help Dance/USA honor extraordinary dance leaders: submit your nominations for the Dance/USA 2025 Honor and ‘Ernie’ Awards, generously sponsored by Harlequin Floors. The Honor and ‘Ernie’ awards recognize an individual’s contributions to dance in the U.S. and acknowledge their achievements and the roles they play in the national dance ecosystem. Dance/USA will present these national awards at the 2025 National Conference, June 17-20, in Chicago, IL. Nominate a friend, colleague, client, employee, employer or anyone who deserves to be celebrated. Consider nominating someone who contributes to the creative and cultural landscape of the dance community through their chosen artistic medium and extraordinary leadership, and whose impact on the dance ecosystem has yet to be publicly acknowledged. Nominations are due by Friday, August 30, 11:59 PM PT.