Dear BDA Community,
Creating “Springboards” for dancers with professional aspirations has been an important part of BDA’s mission for the last five plus years. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re aiming to do even more to catalyze the careers of aspiring dancers through signature programs like:
- Open Call Auditions: A day-long event providing professional-level classes & try-outs for local dance companies for an affordable price. This year’s event featured four leading dance instructors, 26 dancers and 18 observers from six different dance companies.
- Dancemaker’s Residency: Over 10 months, two choreographers receive comprehensive financial & in-kind support for the creation & presentation of new work. In partnership with Boston Center for the Arts, BDA has supported 12 dancemakers since 2019.
Please donate to BDA today to help broaden these professional pathways for local dancers. Thanks to a matching gift from two anonymous donors, any amount you donate in December will be doubled. Now is your chance to do twice as much for dance!
Thank you,
Aaron Myers, Executive Director
BDA Member Events This Week
Rachel Linsky presents “Gathering Sparks” as part of “The Somerville Chanukah Party” organized by the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music. They’ll be opening at 7 PM, followed by Chanukah music and Yiddish dancing, and then a Kleztronica DJ set will wrap up the evening. Thursday, December 19, 7-10 PM, at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Tickets: $10-$54. If price is a barrier, email Rachel at Rachellinsky411@gmail.com for a discount code.
FREE! – Join the screening of “Proximity Continuum“followed by discussion with directors and choreographer Grisha Coleman. The short film directed by Malakhai Pearson (artist-in-residence) and Joseph Zeal Henry (2024 Loeb/ArtLab Fellow) is their reinterpretation of the dance performance choreographed by Coleman, “Proximity: Rehearsal Continuum,” which took place at ArtLab in September. Through choreography, spatial design, and music, this film explores the shared cultures of Black diasporic communities in Boston, Britain, and beyond. Thursday, December 19, 6:30-7:30 PM, at the Art Lab at Harvard University, 140 N Harvard St, Boston.
Catch the “Winter Blues” with the illustrious Betsi Feathers burlesque troupe. Enjoy a wintry burlesque show on Sunday, December 22, 7 PM at Off Cabot Comedy & Events,9 Wallis St., Beverly. Tickets: $25-$35.
Ballet RI presents The Nutcracker. Join Clara on her unforgettable adventure in this holiday spectacular, featuring breathtaking sets and costumes. This year, get ready for a brand new snowy surprise that will add an extra layer of magic to the show. Thursday, December 19 through Sunday, December 29 at The Vet’s, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI. Tickets: $45-$105.
North Atlantic Ballet brings The Nutcracker to Beverly. Go on an enchanting journey into the Land of the Sweets, with choreography by Lucy Warren-Whitman that brings a fresh, local twist to this beloved story. Friday, December 20, 7 PM; Saturday, December 21, 12 PM & 7 PM; Sunday, December 22, 12 PM & 5 PM, at The Cabot Theater, 286 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA. Tickets: $24.75-$78.00.
The FY25 round of Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) applications are available to support the planning and construction of cultural buildings across Massachusetts. Up to $7 million will be granted to support repairs, renovations, new construction, and acquisition projects. Planning grants are also available for analysis, design, and feasibility studies that relate to a cultural facility. Deadline: Thursday, December 19, 2024.