Meet Interim Executive Director Aaron Myers
After a two-month search, the board of Boston Dance Alliance is delighted to announce Aaron Myers as our new Interim Executive Director. Aaron succeeds former BDA leader Debra Cash, who left the organization at the end of September.
With an impressive resume that includes regional and international non-profit leadership, and more than 20 years as a dance artist and educator, Aaron (pronounced “AY-ron”) comes to BDA after key management positions with United Way Worldwide, Next Level USA’s Cultural Diplomacy Project with whom he led dance academies in Abu Dhabi and Rio de Janeiro, and The Kaleidoscope Group, where he consulted on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs for global companies.
In the regional dance community, Aaron is Artistic Director of the Beantown Lockers dance crew, where he teaches, choreographs and produces group performances. He has danced with Boston’s iconic group The Floorlords and is a professor for Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola Boston. Aaron is also a Board Member of The Flavor Continues, a non-profit that serves street and club dance communities, and a Co-Founder and Leader of the creative venture A Trike Called Funk, which orchestrates participatory dance experiences in community-based settings and creates paid gig opportunities for local artists. A Trike Called Funk is a member of BDA’s Fiscal Sponsorship program, which gives Aaron a unique perspective on the importance of that program and the needs it meets for growing dance artists and organizations.
Thank you to the many strong applicants whose resumes were eagerly received and reviewed in this process. We welcome Aaron to this position at Boston Dance Alliance, and look forward to working with him. Reach Aaron at amyers@bostondancealliance.org.
John Michael Kennedy, Chair
“A Meeting of the Arts” is an immersive art experience featuring original music and dance by composer and guitarist Ira Klein, multi-instrumentalist Beth Bahia Cohen, and dancer Rachel Linsky. The event is geared to young adults but open to anyone; drinks and light fare provided! Thursday, November 30, 6-8 PM at The Vilna Shul. Tickets: $18.
With dance by Victoria Lynn Awkward and guest youth performers, vocals by Desiré Graham, and piano by Hua Ye (Jane), “For Nina” is both a thank you letter to Nina Simone for the work she has done and a reflection on the lineage — old and young — of Black artists and other underrepresented voices, like Simone’s, who continue to seek liberation. The show highlights each artist’s vulnerability and power as beautiful, and essential, assets of our humanity. Thursday, November 30, 8 PM at Hibernian Hall and Saturday, December 16, 8 PM at The Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center. Tickets: $10-$35.
Eve Boltax and Ana Harmon invite you to an afternoon of Gaga + Feldenkrais at the Dance Complex, where they will explore playful movement and deep physical activation. Everyone is welcome; no prior experience required. Saturday, December 2, 2-5 PM. Registration: $40
The 20th annual Boston Bhangra Competition will host ten of the best Bhangra teams from North America who will compete to be crowned Boston Bhangra Champion. Bhangra is a folk dance from the state of Punjab and parts of Pakistan: very energetic and fun to watch. One night only! Saturday, December 2, 6 PM at the Strand Theatre. Tickets: $13-$100
In celebration of its 10th anniversary season, Nozama Dance Collective presents RECLAIM, an evening-length concert of contemporary dance. This performance of powerful dance and poetic inquiry takes on moving socio-political themes and presents visionary and rigorous dance work. Saturday, December 2, 7:30 PM at the Boston University Dance Theater, 915 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. Tickets: $20. Nozama aims to keep dance accessible and affordable to all. If the ticket cost is a limiting factor, please email nozamadance@gmail.com.
Other events in the community this week:
FREE! – Assets for Artists & MassMoCa host “Planning with Your Whole Self in Your Art Practice with John Vo“, the last virtual workshop of the season. Wednesdays, November 29, and December 6 & 13, 6-8 PM
Williams College presents Pachedu, the annual fall concert featuring the Dance Department ensembles. Friday, December 1 & Saturday December 2, 7 PM at the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance at Williams College. Tickets: $3.
The Legacy Dance Company performs ‘Tis the Season, a show that brings the holiday spirit to all ages. Friday, December 1, 7:30 PM, and Saturday, December 2, 11 AM & 2 PM at the Regent Theatre. Tickets: $18-$22.
ChristmasTime, Reagle’s beloved Christmas extravaganza, returns to the stage in a production for children and adults of all ages. December 2-10 at the Reagle Music Theatre. Tickets: $25-$68.
Decidedly Jazz Danceworks streams through the Jacob’s Pillow online platform. December 4-31 for $15.
Bates Dance Festival announces three summer training programs for dancers of all ages, backgrounds and levels. Applications for the programs opens Wednesday, November 29. Internship applications are due January 29, scholarship applications for all training programs are due April 1; and general applications for all training programs are due May 6.
Dance/USA invites self-identifying early-career dance leaders to apply for the Dance/USA 2024 Institute for Leadership training, a national dance mentorship and leadership development program. Mentor/mentee pairs will be selected and matched for the 2024 program that launches in March 2024 and concludes six months later. The goal of the program is to build the leadership and resiliency skills of early-career dance leaders who represent the rich scope of the national, professional dance community. The deadline to apply is Friday, December 1.