Staffs

Aaron Myers

Executive Director

Aaron Myers

Executive Director

Aaron Myers comes to BDA after key management positions with United Way Worldwide, Next Level USA’s Cultural Diplomacy Project with whom he led dance academies in Abu Dhabi and Rio de Janeiro, and The Kaleidoscope Group, where he consulted on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs for global companies.

In the regional dance community, Aaron is Artistic Director of the Beantown Lockers dance crew, where he teaches, choreographs and produces group performances. He has danced with Boston’s iconic group The Floorlords and is a professor for Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola Boston. Aaron is also a Board Member of The Flavor Continues, a non-profit that serves street and club dance communities, and a Co-Founder and Leader of the creative venture A Trike Called Funk, which orchestrates participatory dance experiences in community-based settings whilecreating paid gig opportunities for local artists. A Trike Called Funk is a member of BDA’s Fiscal Sponsorship program, which gives Aaron a unique perspective on the importance of that program and the needs it meets for growing dance artists and organizations.

Christina Leonard

Programs and Special Initiatives Associate

Christina Leonard

Programs and Special Initiatives Associate

Christina Leonard is a lifelong dancer and Massachusetts based director, teaching artist, choreographer, and mentor who has worked with hundreds of young dancers from studios and training programs in Greater Boston over the past 2 decades. Christina received her fundamental dance training and guidance through her mother, Donna Leonard, with whom she managed their family business, Center Stage Dance Studio through January 2025. In addition to studio management, Christina’s professional career includes 9 years with Melrose Youth Ballet, serving as Publicity Director, Assistant Director, and Co-Director. She has led, founded, and contributed to a number of dance organizations, including her ongoing career with Tony Williams Dance Center. She maintained an 18-year membership with the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston and has also worked with BalletROX as a teaching artist in Boston Public Schools throughout her career. Her well-rounded dance career, paired with production work and project leadership has led Christina to form strong creative connections in the Boston area that continue to serve her and her two daughters generously. Her passion for dance is fueled by working closely with others who share a deep, timeless appreciation for dance and how it connects to the world around us. As a self-proclaimed student of life, Christina continues to expand her dance training primarily in the Boston Krump community. Most recently, she co-organized a recurring mutual aid dance jam, called Cypher 4 Change. Whether she is in the classroom, behind the scenes, or spearheading new projects, Christina applies the unwavering values of equity and social justice to all aspects of her life and work.

Gabrielle Avena

Communications and Member Relations Associate

Gabrielle Avena

Communications and Member Relations Associate

Gabrielle (Gabby) Avena is an enthusiastic dance spectator, even if she doesn’t dance herself. A soon-to-be graduate from Amherst College, she spent her undergraduate years running the campus literary magazine, installing library exhibitions, and bringing renowned poets to campus. Her previous positions have approached working with arts non-profits through the museum field, including being Education and Curation Intern at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and Foundation and Government Relations Intern at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. In the fall of 2025, she will begin her candidacy for a PhD in English from the University of Pennsylvania. Wherever she goes, she hopes to pursue her passion is in highlighting and supporting arts and culture.