Omayra Amaya Flamenco Dance Company is hosting the Boston Back-in-the-Studio Workshop Intensive at The Dance Complex for flamenco dance technique, flamenco dance choreography & flamenco dance structure and improvisation. Monday, June 20 – Saturday, June 25. For questions on workshops and registration, please email omayra@omayraamaya.com
Friends of Charlestown Navy Yard & Navy Yard Garden & Art Present Summer Solstice Celebration & Grand Opening Waterfront Sculpture Exhibit with Continuum Dance Project. Enjoy music, face-painting, food, ice cream, a magic show, “Cubed” by Continuum Dance Project, and pedicab rides along the Harbor to see “Of Many Minds” sculpture exhibit.
Tuesday, June 21, 5:00 PM to sunset at The Anchor, Shipyard Park in the Charlestown Navy Yard.
America(na) to Me at Jacob’s Pillow in the restored Ted Shawn Theater features an expansive array of artists including Warwick Gombey Troupe, Jasmine Hearn, Nélida Tirado, Sara Mearns & Joshua Bergasse, Alexandra Tatarsky, and Pillow commissions performed by Dormeshia & Guests and Mythili Prakash. This presentation offers an ever-timely reflection on how dance engages questions of heritage, tradition, and belonging.
This season, the outdoor performances at Jacob’s Pillow Henry J. Leir Stage and the rustic campus change most Wednesdays-Sundays. This week, catch Eastern Woodland Dances, Dance of the Ages, Collage Dance Collective, and The School at Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Ballet Performance Ensemble.
Urban Bush Women Workshop: Mindful Bodies and Reflective Practice at the Yard in Chilmark.
This participatory workshop focuses on self-care, rejuvenation, and (re-) constructing healthful images of ourselves and our communities. The goal is to bring ourselves to balance, thereby bringing our families and communities to balance as well. No dance or fitness experience is necessary… just a body and a willingness to exhale! Wednesday, June 22, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Bates Dance Festival kicks off their 40th anniversary season with a Rhythm and Pattern: A virtual conversation with Reggie Wilson and Daniel Minter in partnership with Indigo Arts Alliance. This conversation will present a unique opportunity to experience a sneak peek into the minds of two important African American artists working in very different mediums yet connected by history— past, present and future.
Wednesday, June 22nd, 6 PM via Zoom.
Eight Feet Tall & Jenna Moynihan
Featuring instrumentalists Dan Accardi (the Ivy Leaf) and Armand Aromin (the Ivy Leaf, the Vox Hunters) and dancers Rebecca McGowan and Jackie O’Riley (co-creators of From the Floor), Eight Feet Tall approaches Irish step dancing with intense respect for tradition as well as contemporary rhythmic flair. Instruments, shoes, voices, and whole bodies will enter into “conversation” in this dynamic performance. A split bill, the second half of this production features freestyle fiddler Jenna Moynihan.
Wednesday, June 22 at 7:30 PM
First Church, Cambridge
Sarah Reich’s Tap Music Project comes to Boston for an intensive aimed at turning tap dancers into tap musicians from June 22-26 with inspiring guest teachers Dianne Walker and Ian Berg at Deborah Mason Performing Arts Center in Somerville.\
Join KAIROS Dance Theater for an intimate, studio showing of FOXY, a contemporary cabaret interpretation of Stravinsky’s satirical, opera-ballet, RENARD, made in collaboration with acclaimed vocal chamber ensemble, Renaissance Men. This hour-long event includes a meet-and-greet with the audience, a showing of the first-draft of choreography (accompanied by a rehearsal recording of the music), and a post-performance discussion with artists from both KAIROS & RenMen. Wednesday, June 22, 6:30 – 7:30 PM at Complex at Canal, 650 Kendall Street, Cambridge.
Urban Bush Women Pop-Up Performance connects past and current work and artist themes on display at Featherstone. Thursday, June 23, 5:30 – 6:30 PM at the Featherstone Center for the Arts on Martha’s Vineyard.
Laura Sanchez’ AFTER DARK is a multimodal production that combines flamenco with contemporary dance, poetry, spoken word, visual and creative expression to create awareness about motherhood and mental health during Covid-19 on Thursday, June 23 – Saturday, June, 25 at 8 PM at Mills Gallery at Boston Center for the Arts.
The sharing by this year’s Boston Dance Alliance and Boston Center for the Arts Boston Dancemaker Residency grantee weaves together past and present. The award-winning film AFTER DARK based on Laura’s experiences as an artist, woman, trauma survivor, and mother of her first child, explores hope during pandemic quarantine. The newest chapter focused on the lights and shadows of motherhood, including glimpses into Laura’s experience becoming a mother to her second child, who suffered a severe brain injury at birth.
International Dance and Music at Pinewoods, with Bianca de Jong and Kumu Hula Kawika Alfiche, music by The Vaccinated Squirrel Orchestra and The Pinewoods Band runs Thursday, June 23 – Thursday, June 30. Pinewoods is a traditional dance and music camp, located on 25 hilly acres in a pine forest between Long and Round Ponds in Plymouth.
Urban Bush Women Truth & Joy Presentation Truth & Joy is a free 2-day event that offers islanders and visitors an opportunity to learn island racial history. Organized by the Martha’s Vineyard Diversity Coalition. Artistic Director, Chanon Judson, will offer a short performance of “Give Your Hands to the Struggle”. Friday, June 24, 5:30-6:30 PM at Oak Bluffs Campground.
PRESENX by Vincent Cacialano and Jeffrey Gunshol. Drag-performance meets conceptual-art anti-performance for a hilarious and poignant blend of social commentary. Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June 25 at 8 PM at MAGMA in Gloucester.
Inside Dance Presented in partnership with L/A Arts, this ten year retrospective of the work of the late photographer Arthur Fink features over 40 images of dancers at work and play at the Bates Dance Festival. Opening Reception: Friday, June 24, 5-7 PM Gallery Talks: Fridays, July 22 and August 5, 5 PM The exhibit is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from June 25 to August 6, 2-6 PM The Hartley Block, 155 Lisbon Street, Lewiston Maine.
Abria Smith presents “WordSpeak: Somebody Soup“ at Mission Hill Arts Festival. This performance is a showcase of theater, music, spoken word and movement based on her most recent released poetry book, “Somebody Soup.” Saturday, June 25 at 5:30 PM, at the YARD at the Tobin Community Center, 1481 Tremont Street.
Music is Freedom, Silent Headphone Dance Party with 3 DJs with music played only through your headphones! Each color “channel” represents separate music from each DJ. You “tune in” to a different DJ throughout the event!
Saturday, June 25, 6-9 PM at Starlight Square, 84 Bishop Alen Drive LOT #5, Cambridge.
Release Your Dance’s 10-year anniversary celebration will take place at the Boston Common Parkman Bandstand with an outdoor dance series for everyone! This DJ lineup is not one you’ll want to miss! For more information contact (617) 777-3611. Free on Saturday, June 25, 12 – 8 PM.
Boston Dance Theater with musician Yoni Battat celebrate multiculturalism and resilience in a new work at the Rings Fountain on the Rose Kennedy Greenway at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Milk Street. Incorporating both historical and contemporary ideologies, the work will celebrate the artistic cohort’s multicultural heritage and community in anticipation of the emergence of a more interconnected and conscientious society. Saturday June 25 and Sunday, June 26 at 2 PM.
Dancing on the Charles outdoor dance party features Soul Clap, Trip Report, Saucy Lady, and K.XAH.
Saturday, June 25th, 3 – 11 PM.
The Hip Hop Exchange VOL. 4 is a two-day dance festival that brings racially and culturally diverse and intergenerational audiences together to expand awareness of the cultural origins of hip hop history and evolution… and it’s fun! It combines dance classes, freestyle session, panel discussion, local vendors. All levels and all ages 10+ welcome! Saturday and Sunday, June 25 & 26 at the Deborah Mason Performing Arts Center in Somerville.
Beheard.world premieres Suite Talk, a performance rooted in the belief that no cultural, musical, or choreographic styles are mutually exclusive. The piece demonstrates that social change occurs when many people change themselves by seeing the world through the eyes of “the other.” The work is followed by a facilitated discussion.Sunday, June 26 at 3 PM at Nubian Square Parking Lot/Blair Lot, Boston.
The Queen of Nöri is an original story ballet that follows a Queen who turns to dark magic to save her kingdom from war with neighboring powers. Choreographed by Holly Stone with music by composer Ian Guthrie, The Queen of Nöri takes ballet into the 21st century by way of Game of Thrones and explores magic, parenthood, and what happens when people in positions of power are put to the ultimate test. Sunday, June 26, 6:00 – 7:30 PM at Windhover Performing Arts Center in Rockport.
Subject:Matter performs Songbook at the Tap Music Project showcase on Sunday, June 26 at the Regent Theatre in Arlington.
Creative Economy Jobs Panel
The cultural production industries contributed $22.2 billion dollars to the Massachusetts economy in non-COVID times, but career pathways are sometimes non-linear and diffuse. How can policymakers build viable career pathways into the creative industries for Boston youth? Join the discussion! Tuesday, June 21, 2:30 – 4:15 PM at the Massart Design and Media Center.
Paid performance opportunity for dancers with disabilities
Technology-enhanced dance project for Boston museum by the multimedia firm MASARY Studios. MASARY Studios seeks choreographers and dancers to contribute to a multimedia installation project to be featured at a prominent Boston-area museum, to premiere in September, 2022. The project explores and uses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies, along with real-time camera input, to transform images of museum-goers into AI-generated video based on footage captured of varied styles of dance and movement. MASARY Studios is interested in capturing a diverse range of dance styles and movement languages.
Recording sessions will be 2 or 4-hour sessions within the following timeframes: Tuesday, June 21, 1-5 PM and Wednesday, June 22, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM at the Motion cyc studio. To participate please contact grace@masarystudios.com and cc dcash@bostondancealliance.org as soon as possible.
AXIS Dance Company invites disabled and non-disabled dancers from around the world to engage, share and learn from one another and the AXIS dancers and staff for their annual Summer Intensive. Students learn new skills in three different modules derived from the company’s working ethos and repertoire that will enhance and develop their own practice in improvisation, choreography and performance, and dance education. AXIS’ teacher training module provides professional dance teachers and experienced artists the chance to enhance their skills and working methods in inclusive dance and translation for dancers with disabilities Application Deadline: Friday, June 24.
SPEAC (Supporting the Processing of Experiences through the Arts during Crises), a 15-hour professional development series that will meet via Zoom this July. For the third consecutive school year the Eliot School for Fine and Applied Arts, Open Door Arts, and Wheelock Family Theatre have joined together to support and guide Massachusetts area Teaching Artists and Arts Teachers navigate the current challenges in their teaching environments. The program is free and a $100 stipend will be provided upon completion.
The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation, in partnership with Portland Ovations, has announced a national $25,000 award to a contemporary choreographer paired with an additional $15,000 to bring a performance of the awardees work to a Maine audience. The Raising the Barre initiative is open to US citizen choreographers 18+ living in the United States. Jurors are Kyle Abraham, Janet Wong and Philip Bither. Application deadline: July 15.
The Public Schools of Brookline is seeking an enthusiastic and committed dance teacher for a one-year, 0.7FTE position at Brookline High School for the 2022-2023 school year. The Dance program consists of beginner through advanced level classes with a focus on contemporary/modern dance, and a mixed-level African, Latin, Hip-Hop dance class. Apply by Monday August 1.
During Pride Month, explore how Vogue Ballroom dance legend Omari Mizrahi (Ousmane Wiles) explains the art of gay painter, installation artist and filmmaker Mark Bradford, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Click here to watch.
Outdoors and inside, in person dancing is back! Check out the events in your neighborhood and throughout New England this summer.
Happy summer solstice!
Debra Cash, Executive Director