Marathon and More Inspiring Motion!

Performances

3 kids reaching arms up and making a kiss face.

Kids do Dance on Martha’s Vineyard is back. Fun, active dance classes for all levels of experience and ability build skill and technique; nurture the child’s choreographic voice and individual artistic expression through composition studies. Kids Do Dance enables children to think creatively, move freely, and work collaboratively. Monday-Friday, April 17-21 8:45 AM-2:30 PM Email  registration@dancetheyard.org to pre-register and/or inquire about scholarships.

 

dancer with black United Dance shirt reaches right arm to their side.

United Dance returns to Boston with an incredible team of professional dancers, teachers, musicians and specialists in inclusive dance. During the one week workshop youth and young adults with Down syndrome dance with professional dancers to live music in state-of-the-art dance studios. Dancers have the option of working towards a performance, learning choreography, and creating original dances. Performance on the last day of the course. April 18-23, 4-5 PM (with the option of the choreographic workshop from 5-5:30 PM) happens at the Brookline Ballet School, 1431 Beacon Street.

 

Jake, Laurel and Nic photographed from waistline up in front of a large pile of fire wood.Irish and Appalachian dancer Nic Gareiss  joins forces with folk musicians Laurel Premo and Jake Blount at Club Passim in Cambridge Tuesday, April 18, 8 PM. Through traditional songs familiar and arcane, this new trio celebrates the deep rhythms and subtle harmonies of American roots music.

 

Ori Lenkinski events poster with red-lit photo of Ori looking down over right shoulder in a button down shirt and events information on the right side of the poster

In partnership with Motion State Arts and The Consulate General of Israel to New England, the Dance Complex welcomes Ori Lenkinski for two events on Wednesday, April 19. Informal showing of her work-in-progress “A Dance Piece” which grapples with questions that she faces about her life as a dancer, the form itself, and the persisting love she has for dance happens at 12:30 PM. Free but RSVP is required. Ori ‘s evening workshop “Text and Subtext: Words and Movement” incorporates contemporary movement practices and work with text at 5:30 PM

 

Photo of Urban Bush Women in metalic, chain-like costumes in different poses. In the forefront are two company members: one sits on the floor and lays back on the others thigh and chest as the latter embraces the first's head gently

Urban Bush Women: Haint  Blu returns to Mass MoCA co-presented by Jacob’s Pillow with a site-responsive performance in the Mass MoCA galleries and museum campus. After a multi-year developmental process working in collaboration with communities, artists, and presenters Haint Blu uses performance as a center and source of healing: remembering, reclaiming, releasing, and restoring. April 19–22, 7 PM.

 

Research talk poster with event title over an outdoor performance photo of a dancers hips, butt and upper thigh with their arm reaching down and their hand open holding on to their right thigh.

Williams College Dance Department presents Dancing with the Hips, Butt, and Pelvis: Black Majorette/Dance Team Performance and the Politics of Pleasure. Saroya Corbett addresses the racialized and gender politics of dancing with the hips, butt, and pelvis. She examines Black culture’s engagement and complex relationship with the politics of respectability and pleasure and explores the Black majorette/dance team performance originating from the marching band culture at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Free, masks required.  Wednesday, April 19, 7 PM at the MainStage.

 

Blurred silhouette of five dancers on stage with a cold colored cyclorama as a backdrop.

The Boston Conservatory at Berklee Junior Class offers its spring composition showcase in person and streaming online Thursday April 20 at 8 PM at 31 Hemenway Street, Floor 4—Studio 401.

 

Final Event poster with green background, event information in white on the right side and artists' photos on the left.

Join the Midday Movement Series BIPOC Professional Development Dancer Mentorship Final Event. All events will feature a brief panel discussion in which the mentees will share their experiences followed by a meet-and-greet with refreshments.

  • Boston Event: This evening will feature brief dance showings with some of the mentees. Friday, April 21, 6 PM at the Cultural Equity Incubator, 15 Channel St.
  • Somerville Event: Come to hear about the mentees experiences in Somerville and be sure to say hello! Saturday April 22, 2 PM at the Rooted Cafe at The Armory, 191 Highland Ave.
  • Cambridge Event: This event will be our final goodbye as a cohort and toasts the close of the inaugural program! Monday, April 24, 6 PM, Multicultural Arts Center Gallery, 41 Second St.

 

Performance photo of STOMP with one performe jumping with legs bent back and arms up holding on to garbage tin lids. Another performer also holds on to tin lids, opens arms wide and stands on one leg as the other is bent and lifted.

STOMP is a journey through sound, a celebration of the everyday, and a comic interplay of characters wordlessly communicating through dance and drum. Friday April 21, 7:30 PM and Saturday, April 22 2 & 7:30 PM at Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

 

Intersections v2 poster with white background and colorful intersecting subway lines with honorees' names as the end stop of each line.

Abilities Dance Boston presents Intersections v2, honoring BIPOC and disabled artists/activists past and present while advocating for current bills through music and movement. Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22, 8 PM at Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second Street, Cambridge.

 

Angels & Demons poster with event information displayed over a mirrored image of a window with red light on one side and blue on the other.

Cyberpunk and BLVCK DRGN are hosting an “Angels & Demons” Theme Dance Party! Bring your halos and horns, for this is a dance party like no other with house music, techno and dance music genres!  21+ are welcome to celebrate love, music & dance. Come dressed as aesthetically as you can! Friday, April 21, 9:45 PM at The Lower Level, 55 Bishop Allen Dr, Cambridge.

 

 

Ballroom dancers in a lift in which one dancer is lifted over the other's shoulders while holing a firm T shape with their body and keeping front side of their bod on the other's shoulder.

Join Liliana in Partner Acro: Dance-Inspired Lifts to learn a variety of partner acro moves with a Latin dance feel! Explore counterbalance, lifts, and skills that incorporate momentum and dynamic elements, all while focusing on transitions that help skills look fluid and connected. This workshop is aimed at advanced beginners and up. Get ready to fly! Each monthly workshop with Liliana will introduce new movements, so repeat attendees will learn new material each time. Saturday, April 22,10:30 AM-12:30 PM at Esh Circus Arts, 44 Park St, Somerville.

 

Dancers exploring movement on the floor.

Join Eve Boltax and Ana Harmon for an afternoon of Gaga movement + the Feldenkrais Method! Everyone is welcome; no prior experience required. Space is limited to 30 participants all abilities welcome. Two volunteer spots are available in exchange for the cost of the class. Saturday, April 22, 3:00-5:30 PM at First Church of Jamaica Plain, 6 Eliot Street. Last class until the fall so RSVP now. For more information  email eve@feldenkraisjamaicaplain.com

 

Juan Felipe & Kate in colorful and sparkly costumes. Juan holds Kate's wrist as Kate reaches arm above head.

Spice up your dance skills with Dante’s Masterclass series! Colombian superstars, Juan Felipe & Kate, will be sharing tips and tricks for mastering salsa and bachata. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, this  is the perfect opportunity to expand your skills, connect with other dance enthusiasts, and have a great time. This day long masterclass precedes the 2nd Annual Salsa & Bachata Masquerade Ball, with beginner -friendly salsa and bachata, a Zouk room, and performances by Salsa y Control Dance Company and the instructors. Saturday, April 22, 3 PM-Sunday, April 23, 1 AM at Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts, 41 Hampshire Street, Cambridge.

 

Duration poster with event information displayed over a photo of tap dancers' legs and their feet float off the floor in a jump

In their inaugural performance, Fourth Dimension Tap Co. (FDTC) travels around the clock exploring music in different times, structures, and genres while pushing themselves to expand their comfort zones. In Duration, FDTC presents twelve routines that showcase what they are all about: simultaneously pushing their own boundaries and presenting work that can draw new audiences to tap dance! Saturday, April 22, 8 PM and Sunday, April 23, 7 PM at the Dance Complex.

 

The Speakeasy poster with information about the event displayed on the left side over a black and white photo of a performer in character heels, a skirt and a bra-like top kicking one leg up at 90 degrees.

Join The SpeakEasy Salon in-person! Each performer will do their poetry, dance or music during a fun performance party. Featuring work by Elizabeth Heichelbech, Karen Klein, James Falvo, Shirin Kuppusamy, Tess Saoirse Liddy, Kelley Donovan and Holly Stone plus an open mic. For more information, email:  kelleydonovandance@gmail.com or call (617) 388-3247. Saturday, April 22, 8 PM at 300 Columbia Street, Cambridge.

 

Community Conversations banner with partner logos over a blue background.

Dancers, Dance Educators, Facilitators, and Choreographers who live, work, or learn in Somerville are invited to join the Community Conversation discussing “how might we help dance thrive in Somerville?” Sunday, April 23, 1-3 PM  Following that is a second discussion on “how might we help performance thrive in Somerville?” for Performing Arts Presenters, Curators and Producers running  from 4-6 PM. Both events are  facilitated by Emily Beatie and Callie Chapman at the SOMarts Space at the Armory 2nd floor, 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville.

 

Vibrant colored wavey design of a tree in the center of a vast space and the roots spell out "PULSE"

The deadline for participating in this summer’s Somerville Arts Council ArtBeat festival held in Davis Square on July 15 is here! Apply by Monday, April 17.to perform at the Somerville Theater with payment to artists, full lighting design, and sound tech support.

 

Photo of musicians in a room with their instruments, stands and music sheets.

Calling all dance teaching artists! Join a day of workshops and youth performances from the Music Educator and Teaching Artist (META) Fellowship Program on Saturday, May 6 from 11 AM-5 PM. This showcase will celebrate the work of the META Fellows and brings together the broader music education and teaching artist community. Fellows will share tools and resources they have developed to address areas of unmet needs in Massachusetts classrooms and communities. Workshops led by members of the Creative Youth Development Fellowship and by META Fellowship will be presented alongside youth performances. The event will be hosted at Zumix in East Boston. Registration required.

 

Self-declared “body queen” Sasha Colby, a native Hawaiian trans woman, just won Season 15 of  RuPaul’s Drag Race. Especially in light of the suppression of drag entertainers across the nation, it’s worth taking a moment to celebrate her talents.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4yyoT021fE

 

Happy Marathon Monday and for many of you, spring school vacation week!

Do you know of a generous, community minded restaurant, haircutter, boutique, book store or any other business that would offer BDA a gift certificate that we could auction off as part of our 2023 Gala at the Armory on June 15? Please contact Carmen at crizzo@bostondancealliance.org to arrange!

The funds we raise at the gala support BDA’s free services including this weekly Pro/Motion newsletter!

Thank you!

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Debra Cash, Executive Director