Dear Friends,

Welcome to fall and an exciting new season ahead. We are pleased to announce this year that our artist residency programs will be superbly sheperded by long time Artistic Advisors Abby Browde and Nia Love along with George Emilio Sanchez, Board Member and one of BAX’s very first AIRS! This season we are also expanding existing programs to highlight our vested interest in intergenerational programming as they impact social justice with our new ARTISTS ACTIVATED series, a group of public programs and workshops that place artists from all ages and stages side by side to explore activism and anti-racist practices through a performing arts lens. Please read more below.

As an arts organization, BAX is fortunate. We see artists in process all the time. They try something and it fails. Or they love pieces of what they’ve built but it hasn’t come together yet. Making and creating requires strength and vision in the darkness to emerge on the other side with something new and exciting. A stronger, more unassailable piece. BAX as an organization is no different. Like an artist, we work - using all the tools in our toolbox - to make BAX stronger with each new “draft.” We rely on our streamlined and effective programs, our professional and experienced staff and our supportive and highly adaptive Board. Thank you for continuing the ride and process with us! Warmly,

To my BAX Family & Community,

First I want to thank all of you who conceived, planned ,executed and participated in my So Long Salon. It was an amazing experience to be in your presence, hear your words, laugh (a lot!), see your children, share my family with yours!! THANK YOU!

I would also like to take a minute and share my thoughts about our recent AIR OPEN STUDIOS. In the words of 2018-19 AIR Nia Witherspoon, “It is such a special thing to be in this community of artists and seekers. It feels we are in a giant (but non-industrial) kitchen of healers, making making making!”

AIR’s Aya Ogawa, Ita Segev, luciana achugar and Witherspoon shared their work and their practice in an incredibly nourishing day that as Ita put it, “pressed my reset button and reminded me why I love doing what I do, and being in community with people who do this work.”

I couldn’t have said it better.

Marya 

So... I guess if I get another Bessie in twenty years Dean and I will be out here again and he will look like he does right now and I will……..!

Service to the field is huge for me and I hope it is for you. I think of myself as a cultural practitioner, but in truth I see, analyze and commit as a dancer, who are the world’s best multi-taskers and who think from all sides of their brains, hearts and bodies. Dancers and dance makers have been and are NOW radical people who step forward to question and to change with a deep knowledge of daily practice and in their embodiment are aligned with all other radical change-makers. Dance is love, dance is fierce, dance is sublime dance is questioning dance is queer and ridiculous and sexy and bewildering and breathtaking and boring AND I am incredibly grateful to have been serving it (and some of you) for more than forty years.

In the audience tonight are some of the people who by their example or partnership and always their friendship have helped shape what I know about service. When I was 11 or 12, I tried a dance class at a local Y taught by June Finch. I loved it and wanted to go but couldn’t get there; my Mom worked full time and I and I had no transportation. June went way beyond the scope of teaching a weekly class to get me there every week and became my guide and advocate through my teen years. Just a few years ago I learned that Aileen Passloff was the force behind awarding ME - a largely untrained , at least not traditionally 17 year old, a full scholarship to Bard College which literally made it possible for me to go there. She continues to be a mentor and a guide. Sue Bodine is here, who was my partner in developing our first venue on the LES, Chichicastenago and so is Joanna Brotman, one of my first students and a force of her own as a dance practitioner. Along the way... the New Dance Group Studio, Charles Weidman on 29th St & seeing Merce’s Rainforest in 1968 . And with all of who I am I want to acknowledge every single one of BAX’s AIRs and space Grantees since 1991 who have shared their lives and work, their aspirations, their disappointments, have pushed me and I have learned from and who I love so much.

Lastly, we have lives and without the people who love us, life is rough and on some days whether it’s a lack of kindness, unjust lawmakers and policies, or overwhelm at the state of our country its even rougher. Tonight I am taking the opportunity to say thank you for the love, for the kindness and for always hanging in there to my dearest partner Jane-Cole Raftery AND to my amazing BAX FAMILY WHO ARE ALSO HERE TONIGHT!!

Greetings everyone!

I have begun a season of “lasts”. Last fall faculty meeting, last fall open house, last September AIR meeting; you get the idea. As we move towards this season and my retirement at the end of 2018 I am no less passionate or enthusiastic about the people, programs, and core values that make up BAX and I hope to spend time with you all over the next few months. Stop in and stay posted for opportunities to reflect, plan and celebrate!!!!

Dear Friends,

Some of you have been asking how the search is going. If you haven’t yet heard I am retiring from BAX at the end of 2018. The Search Committee of our Board has been conducting interviews with possible candidates and the process is continuing. We are excited that there are some incredible and experienced people who have put themselves forward as new Executive/Artistic Directors. As the process unfolds we will be updating you and look forward to an exciting announcement!

It’s also been an exciting month for the prestigious Bessie Awards and BAX Artists in Residence. BAX AIR (2016-18) Mariana Valencia was selected as the “Breakout” Choreographer award winner. Marjani Forté-Saunders, BAX sponsored artist/project and former AIR (2012-14) received an Outstanding Production nomination, along with former AIR and BAX's first Parent Artist Grantee, Nami Yamamoto, for Headless Wolf, and Courtney Cook was nominated for Sustained Achievement with Urban Bush Women, BAX AIR Maria Bauman, and Marguerite Hemmings.

Thanks to all of you who contributed to generously to the MARYA WARSHAW FUND FOR THE FUTURE. More news on that in September!!!!

Enjoy the rest of summer,

http://bessies.org/2018-nominees/

BAX ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE RECEIVE AWARDS, NOMINATIONS, AND MENTIONS

The New York Dance & Performance Awards (aka The Bessie’s) selected Mariana Valencia (BAX AIR 2016-18) to receive the 2018 OUTSTANDING “BREAKOUT” CHOREOGRAPHER.  "For seamlessly blending ethnography, memoir, and observation of cross-cultural identities in choreography that engages from start to finish. For a unique vision that uses humor and sadness, reality and imagination, to push dance and performance into new territory.”

Marjani Forté-Saunders (BAX AIR 2012-14) and sponsored artist/project) received a nomination for OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION for “Memoirs of a … Unicorn”.

Nami Yamamoto (BAX AIR and first Parent Artist Grantee) received a nomination for OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION for “Headless Wolf”.

Courtney Cook was nominated for OUTSTANDING PERFORMER for her sustained achievement with Urban Bush Women, Maria Bauman (current BAX AIR), and Marguerite Hemmings.

Kaneza Schaal was nominated for OUTSTANDING PERFORMER in "Petra" choreographed by Dean Moss (BAX AIR 1995-98).