Hello BDA Community,
Last week, Boston Dance Alliance (BDA) completed the “International Moves & Food” series in partnership with The Esplanade Association (EA). Shout out to the BDA members who led the fun-filled dance sessions that featured Haitian Folkloric dance by Jean Appolon Expressions, Traditional Irish Dance by Rebecca McGowan, Latin Dance by Metamovements, and Classical Indian Dance by Souls of India.
A big thank you also to the 100+ dancers who participated in the series and to our partners at The Esplanade Association, whose Executive Director Jen Mergel said “Thank you for introducing more park users to the connective and healing energy of dance–especially in greenspace. ‘International Moves & Foods’ was a huge success!”
Looking ahead to November, BDA is preparing for our annual Dancewear Distribution Program, which provides much-needed items to lower-income dancers. Special thanks to our friends at Dance This Way in Concord, MA for their generous in-kind donations to this program. A related call for volunteers is coming soon, so please stay tuned. In the meantime, check out all of the exciting dance opportunities in this week’s edition of BDA’s Pro/Motion newsletter.
Thank you,
Aaron Myers, Executive Director
BDA Member Events This Week
FREE! – Dance Caliente leads a swing dance workshop in which Eileen and Raul will introduce 6-count Swing and mix it up with 8-count Lindy, but leave the “counts” out of the equation. Wednesday, October 30, 7:00-8:30 PM at Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library, Bonsignore Hall (wonderful floor to dance on) – 2nd Floor, 11 High Street, Medford. RSVP required.
For this month’s First Friday at the ICA, cozy up in your comfiest autumn sweater and fall in love with the talented artists—musicians, dancers, visual artists, and more—that call Boston home. Plus, sip drinks, show off your moves on the dance floor, and meet WBUR’s new cohort of The Makers, including BDA member and fiscal sponsee Beth Mochizuki‘s Asian American Ballet Project. Friday, November 1, 6-10 PM, at the ICA, 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston. Tickets: $30-$35.
Janelle Gilchrist Dance Troupe presents Enchanted Twilight, an Autumn-themed dance performance featuring new works choreographed by Janelle Gilchrist, artistic director. This season, the Company will introduce its newly added second company – JGDT Community Ensemble. DanceVisions, Inc. under artistic director Margot Parsons and Dance Currents Inc. under artistic director Kathy Hassinger will be part of the Company’s season opening showcase. Myles Kercher, a talented dancer and choreographer from Ipswich, Massachusetts will perform his own choreographed solo work and will dance with the main company. Janelle Gilchrist will perform a solo dance piece she choreographed to pay tribute to Michaela Mabinty DePrince, who was a phenomenal human being and dancer and touched so many lives from all over the world during her lifetime. Saturday November 2, 7 PM & Sunday November 3, 3 PM at the BCA Plaza Black Box Theatre, 539 Tremont St., Boston. Tickets: $25.
Encore Dance Ensemble proudly presents “Undercurrents,” an evening-length performance of original modern, jazz, and improvisational choreography exploring love, loss, nature, memories, and the powerful ways that relationships sustain us. Saturday, November 2, 8 PM, & Sunday, November 3, 7 PM, at The Dance Complex, 536 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge. Tickets: $30.
FREE! – H.T. Chen & Dancers return to the Berkshires. The NYC-based company is noted for its contemporary works addressing Chinese American history and culture. This residency will be part of the company’s much celebrate work, Opening The Gate. Thursday, October 31, 7-8 PM, Adams Memorial Theatre, ’62 Center, 1000 Main Street, Williamstown.
Join the Cirque of the Dead Historical Society as they resurrect fantastical and frightening details previously lost to history. Expect to be thrilled and perhaps even a little unnerved as the performers delve into the unknown, revealing secrets that were meant to remain buried. Thursday, October 31, 8 PM at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave #1c, Somerville. Tickets: $42 – $65.
FREE! – Jacob’s Pillow is offering encore streamings of Dancers of Damelahamid. Dive into a rich cultural narrative through movement and a powerful performance blending Indigenous traditions with contemporary dance. Friday, November 1-Friday, November 22.
During Public Visits, CAMLab welcomes audiences to explore immersive installations that stage cultural history with digital technologies. Proceeds directly support CAMLab’s future research and projects. CAMLab, a multimedia storytelling lab at Harvard. Their fall Public Visits include digital dance performance. Saturday, November 2, Sunday, November 3 & Sunday, November 10 & Saturday, November 23, 2-6 PM, at 485 Broadway, Cambridge. Advanced reservations are required, and all are welcome. Tickets are pay-as-you-wish. Free admission for Harvard ID holders and CAMLab Membership Community.
FREE! – The Student Choreographers’ Coalition (StuCo) at Williams College is presenting its fall showcase. Watch 11 student-choreographed pieces from ballet, to tap, to contemporary, and everything in between. Friday, November 1, & Saturday, November 2, 8:30 PM at Dance Studio, ’62 Center, 1000 Main Street
Williamstown.
Off Beat Tap Company is hosting drinks & entertainment to debut a series of Seasonal Suites. Guests will enjoy short SUITES of jazz music and tap dancing while savoring fall-themed SWEETS and cocktails. Socialize with friends & neighbors amidst the sounds of jazz standards like “Autumn Leaves” and the tap talent of Ryan Casey, Kelly Kaleta, and Nicole Holloway, with musicians Theo Griffin and Adrian Sicam. There will be a cash bar and cider donuts from Mass Hole Donuts. Bring your tap shoes to join the Shim Sham! Friday, November 1, 7:30 PM, at the Munroe Center for the Arts, 1403 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington. Tickets: $20.
Deborah Mason Performing Arts Center Guest Artist Series welcomes Kelly Kaleta. Join one (or many) of her intermediate or advanced tap classes. Saturday, November 2, 4:00-5:00 PM & 5:00-6:30 PM, and Sunday, November 3, 10:00-11:00 AM & 11:00 AM-12:30 PM, at the DMPAC, 624 Somerville Avenue, Somerville. Registration: $25-$30/class.
Experience Indian classical dance and music in the traditional, intimate style of a baithak (house concert) at the Diwali Concert. Featuring solos by acclaimed artists – Tabla (Rohen Bose), Hindustani classical vocals (Biplab Mukherjee) and Kathak North Indian Dance (Shefali Jain). Saturday, November 2, 6-8 PM at the Foundry, 101 Rogers St., Cambridge. Tickets: $20-$25. Venmo: @Ramana-Akella.
Boston Bhangra and South Asian Nation host their annual Diwali Gala. Celebrate the festival of lights with family and friends. Enjoy activities including dance classes and performances. Saturday, November 2, 5-11 PM, at 520 Pleasant St, Watertown.
Take class with Heidi Henderson with live accompaniment by Albert Mathias. Enjoy a post-modern class featuring large loopy phrases, paying deep attention, and finding joy. Sunday, November 3, 12-2 PM at Metamorphosis/ Ten31 productions, 249 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket, RI. Registration: $20.
The Click seeks fall/winter dance instructors and assistants for a paid opportunity ($45/hour for instructor pay and $20/hour for assistant pay as a 1099 employee) from December 2024 – March 2025. These positions require teaching creative movement classes weekly on Wednesdays from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm at the Lesley Ellis School in Arlington, MA. To apply, please send an email introduction with a resume and a brief summary of the relevant highlights in your dance and teaching experience, as well as a general understanding of who you are beyond dance. Emails should be sent to Click coordinator Alexandria Nunweiler at bostonclicknotclique@gmail.com with subject line “Arlington Creative Movement” by 6 PM November 8, 2024.
DrumatiX, an award-winning creative percussion company, is seeking performing artists to join the Boston chapter. DrumatiX combines tap dance, body percussion, and drumming with found items, invented instruments, drums, buckets, technology, clowning, and audience interaction. They are looking for individuals ages 18+ with strong performance skills and intermediate to advanced tap dance abilities. Percussion/drumming experience is not required. Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays in Tewksbury, MA, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Performance opportunities are available throughout the year. Shows and their corresponding rehearsals are compensated. Ongoing learning/maintenance rehearsals are unpaid. Scheduling for shows is flexible. Please send an updated tap dance video and resume to info@drumatixdance.com and include your general availability.
The Harvard University Standing Committee for Undergraduate Degrees in Theater, Dance, and Media seeks to appoint a Senior Lecturer in Dance. The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2025. The successful candidate will provide instruction in the art of dance, encompassing technique, theory, choreography, history, and improvisation. The position is for five years and renewable contingent upon review and approval of the divisional/SEAS dean. Candidates are encouraged to apply by November 15, 2024.
The Salem State University Music and Dance Department, in collaboration with the Salem State University Center for Creative and Performing Arts, invites submissions of short HIP HOP dance films for screening at its inaugural Intergenerational Hip Hop Symposium. Selected films will be screened at the Sophia Gordon Center for the Performing Arts January 31, 2025. Submission deadline: November 15.
Studio 170 for Artists has two new calls open for New England artists of all disciplines. Proporals for residencies are currently being accepted. Successful applicants will realize their proposed projects in our newly-renovated space in Back Bay. Additionally Studio 170 can help with travel costs to Germany if you are planning an artist residency or cooperation there. Application deadline for both calls is November 17, at 11:59 PM.