2023 Dr. Michael Shannon Dance Champions Named! This year for the first time, at the encouragement of a panel of prior BDA Dance Champions, BDA will be honoring three women who have built extraordinary legacies in our dance community — Deborah Mason, Ann Brown Allen and Dianne “Lady Di” Walker! Born and raised in East Cambridge, Deborah … Continued
MassCreative has sent a letter to the new administration of Governor Maura Healey endorsed by many local arts organizations and individuals calling for $5 per capita for the Mass Cultural Council in the next state budget. This would bring the budget to $35 million from its current $23.4 million in FY23, approximately $3.28 per capita, which was a … Continued
The cities of Boston, Cambridge and Somerville have joined forces to address the critical need to protect and plan for cultural spaces and infrastructure in what is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has made a grant of $140,000 for “Making Space for Art.” Under this initiative, the … Continued
Nominations for the 2023 Dr. Michael Shannon Dance Champion award are open! This award, created in 2004 and renamed in honor of the late, beloved physician and dancer who served as President of the Boston Dance Alliance board, recognizes a member of the metropolitan Boston dance community over the age of 60 who has made a great contribution to Boston’s … Continued
We are thrilled to share the news about Boston Center for the Arts 2023 Dancemakers Laboratory Residents: Wendy Jehlen, Laila J. Franklin and Audrey MacLean! This residency offers choreographers and dancers the opportunity to further research and revise works that address pressing issues and reflections on humanity. Through a series of open rehearsals, the artists create a feedback loop with mentors … Continued
Congratulations on recipients of the first round of 2023 National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Project grants, Jacob’s Pillow, Jean Appolon Expressions and our friends in Rhode Island, Island Moving Company. Northeastern University received a grant to host an NEA Research Labs using participatory action research methods to evaluate whether and how community arts workshops in East Boston, Massachusetts, … Continued
SMU DataArts released its report on the top 40 arts-vibrant communities of 2022 and both Boston and Cambridge and the surrounding suburbs (Newton and Framingham) got a nod. There is no overall ranking this year, since the researchers took into account the complicated pandemic-related changes that have affected every aspect of the arts ecology. But interestingly Boston ranked … Continued
Somatic Partnering Workshop with Ilya Vidrin & Jessi Stegall. This workshop for intermediate and advanced dancers will introduce the basics of Ilya & Jessi’s partnering technique, which combines dance with questions that challenge and enhance ethical interaction. This unique approach includes exercises that engage subtle elements of relational movement, including touch, proximity, shared weight, and mutual gaze. Masks … Continued
BDA notes with great sadness the passing of Urban Nutcracker and Tony Williams Dance Center stalwart and Roxbury native son Ilanga one day before Christmas. Tony writes: His early years were spent singing nationally and internationally with the 1950s Doo Wop group,The G-Clefs. However, his real passion was as an Afro -Jazz dancer. He danced for many years in … Continued
BDA applauds the decision by Skate Canada to announce that ice dance or pairs teams competing domestically can be composed of any two athletes, regardless of gender. Karen Butcher, president of Skate Canada noted “This [rule] change is about removing barriers to participation in skating, and we believe it will have a significant impact in ensuring all … Continued