Dear BDA Community,
While some of us are feeling uncertainty & fear in the wake of last week’s election, there are reasons to remain optimistic about our future. We as dance artists, educators, and organizers know how to adapt to and move through life’s challenges. We build communities whose members uplift & strengthen one another, and all that we co-create will continue to cultivate a more positive & joyful world. Boston Dance Alliance is committed to accompanying you every step of the way, providing programs and services to help dancers shape a brighter tomorrow and live a more fulfilled life through the power of dance.
To complement all of the exciting opportunities to dance highlighted in this week’s newsletter, we’re happy to announce that the deadline for BDA members to request new items from our Dancewear Donation Program has been extended through this coming Monday, November 18th. Please follow this link by then to specify the number & type of items you need. And if you’re not yet a BDA member, please click here to sign up for this and many other membership benefits.
“Keep on Movin’!”
Aaron Myers, Executive Director
BDA is saddened by the recent passing of Alvin Ailey’s former dancer and director, Judith Jamison, at 81. This past Saturday the dance community lost an incredible artist. However, her light will live on in the multiple dancers she has inspired, including so many in the Boston area.
BDA Member Events This Week
BoSoma Dance Company presents “INTERCONNECTIONS,” an evening of contemporary dance directed by Katherine Hooper. BDC looks forward to showcasing a vibrant collection of performances featuring new pieces by acclaimed choreographer Eddy Ocampo, as well as talented company dancers Jess-Rose White and Dana Mazurowski. Saturday, November 16, 7:30 PM and Sunday, November 17, 2:00 PM, at Shore Country Day School, 545 Cabot Street, Beverly. Tickets: $25-$40.
FREE! -Join Dance/USA for a webinar on Funding Your Dance Archives Project. Speakers with extensive experience fundraising for dance archives projects will share strategies for communicating about your or your organization’s archival work in a practical and motivating panel discussion. You’ll learn successful approaches for demonstrating to funders the importance of dance archives for artists, organizations, communities, and the historical record. And you’ll leave with resources, specific grant opportunities, concrete guidance, and new perspectives on funding your archives. Wednesday, November 13, 4:00-5:30 PM, via Zoom.
FREE! – Godfrey Muwulya visit the Yard for a two week residency (Nov. 3-15), teaching East African Dance to students across the island. Watch their final showcase, Friday, November 15, 10:00-11:30 AM, at MV Performing Arts Center (PAC). RSVP is required. Email: registration@dancetheyard.org for more information.
FREE! – Boston Dance Theater Core Members host an open studio showing of Roya Carreras’ new work. Meet the choreographer and the dancers, on Friday, November 15, 2-3 PM at The Dance Complex, 536 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. RSVP is required: email sean@bostondancetheater.com to secure your seat.
The story of Nita & Zita is a tale of marginalized women who lived by their own rules, Jewish immigrants on the fringes of society, burlesque dancers, and trailblazers. It is a story of mystery, intrigue, glamour, stardom, poverty, loneliness, and most of all, the extraordinary love and devotion of sisters. A Glam started a conversation with Marci to get her back on stage, but the vision became more clear as they chatted. They decided to create a space that will pay tribute to these powerful & brave women, who paved the way for performers like them! This sultry show will take you back in time & give you all the feels. Don’t miss Burlesque History: A Night of Nita & Zita Tipping Our Hats to Burlesque Trailblazers. Friday, November 15, 8 PM at Off Cabot Comedy & Events, 9 Wallis St., Beverly. Tickets: $25.
FREE! – The Marblehead School of Ballet: Fall In-Studio Performance features students enrolled in the MSB’s Repertory class and Monthly Dance Adventure workshop performing a range of repertory, including ballet, modern, and Balinese. Registration: Seating is limited. Advanced registration is needed. Contact 781-631-6262 or msb@havetodance to register. Saturday, November 16, 2-3 PM, at Marblehead School of Ballet, 115 Pleasant Street , Marblehead.
Groovement is about finding a sense of comfort and groove within the container of a structured dance class that emphasizes rhythm, musicality, and authentic expression. They share the movement that comes most naturally to me: a hybrid reinterpretation of my experiences dancing at home, in studios, and in clubs. Groovement is an Afrocentric, QTBIPOC-friendly, liberation-focused, hate-free, pro-love space. All levels, all ages welcome. Comfort with music and movement is helpful. Registration: $22 (self selecting sliding scale available. No one is turned away due to lack of funds). Sunday, September 17, 11:30 AM-1:15 PM, at Madhouse Motors, 24 Blue Hill Ave, Boston. Registration: $22. Self-selecting sliding scale available. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Classical with a Twist: West Newton Pops will focus on popular music through a cultural lens. This variety style pops program is dedicated to Latin song and dance featuring a Tango performance from Boston Ballroom as well as a dance music program played by emerging and established musicians: Jakob Kobal, accordionist; Natalie Levinson, vocalist; and Jeremiah Cossa, pianist. Sunday, November 17, 3 PM at The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, Newton. Tickets: $10-$50.
Tess Saoirse Dance Company is a performance company for adults of all dance backgrounds and levels in the Massachusetts area. Dedicated to creating an inclusive and harmonious community, TSDC seeks dancers who have yet to find their community and feel they have something to give. TSDC seeks dancers and will be hosting auditions Wednesday, November 13, 8-10 PM at MassMotion, 100 Holton St., Brighton. Rehearsals will be Wednesdays at MassMotion Boston (January 8-June 11, 8-10pm and June 18-September 3, 7-10pm). The show will be early September 2025.