In honor of Bi Pride Month this September, Dancing Queerly presents Dear Mom: a tender and vulnerable hour-and-a-half experience exploring *bi+/queer families of origin by Good Trouble Makers. Through film, discussion, and a guided letter-writing experience we’ll explore the landscape of the pain, healing, and joy that’s possible at our roots. If you are a person who experiences multi-gender attraction, this event was made for you! If you are the family, be it chosen or family of origin, of a person who is *bi+\queer and you want to understand them better, welcome! If you want to join Good Trouble Makers for the world premiere of Dear Mom and this meaningful multifaceted experience, see you there!

*Terms: bi+/queer refers to all people who experience multi-gender attraction

The definition of bi+/queer is trans inclusive: Attraction to more than one gender, not attraction limited to men and women as is often misunderstood.

Dancing Queerly and Pride 4 The People are partnering to produce “We’re Queer All Year,” a digital artist showcase. This spring, we put out an open call for “New England based dancers, movers, drag performers, poets & spoken word artists,” to submit work samples for a virtual event, in boycott of Boston Pride’s 2021 virtual events (more information about the boycott can be found at www.pride4thepeople.org). In addition to 5-10 minute video samples, we invited artists to share their stories, offering the following prompts: “Background in your art and/or what drew you to it, your expression of queerness through your creative expression, why you’re in support of our boycott event, ways in which folx can support you!”

We were excited to receive submissions from artists of various disciplines: burlesque, cabaret, contemporary/modern dance, drag, music composition, performance art, and vogue. We were also grateful to read and hear their stories and perspectives, including but not limited to: wanting to put pressure on Boston Pride to better serve and represent the Boston LGBTQIA+ community, disillusionment with the hyper-corporatization of Pride and a desire to celebrate more intentionally, calls for greater representation in the Boston performing arts community.

This event will intentionally drop on June 30, and the recording will be available beyond Pride Month, in honor and celebration of the theme: “We’re Queer All Year!”

EVENT CANCELLED In 2020, Dancing Queerly will partner with the Steps in Time® ballroom dance program, to bring you Sunday Soirees at The Dance Complex. Steps in Time director and Dancing Queerly co-producer, Michael Winward invites you to step out for an afternoon of social dancing to a fun playlist of music from the 1940's--today. Sunday Soirees begin with a 30-minute tutorial in ballroom basics, followed by an hour of social dancing, including Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Cha cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Hustle and Merengue. Michael holds multiple championship titles, sanctioned by the North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association. His instruction assumes a gender-neutral approach to leading and following: participants are encouraged to learn and practice either role, regardless of gender or gender expression. Sunday Soirees are free and open to the public; no prior experience or partner is necessary to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. A comfortable, clean-soled dress shoe or a ballroom shoe is encouraged. As with all Dancing Queerly events, we ask that participants abide by our Community Guidelines.

EVENT CANCELLED In 2020, Dancing Queerly will partner with the Steps in Time® ballroom dance program, to bring you Sunday Soirees at The Dance Complex. Steps in Time director and Dancing Queerly co-producer, Michael Winward invites you to step out for an afternoon of social dancing to a fun playlist of music from the 1940's--today. Sunday Soirees begin with a 30-minute tutorial in ballroom basics, followed by an hour of social dancing, including Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Cha cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Hustle and Merengue. Michael holds multiple championship titles, sanctioned by the North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association. His instruction assumes a gender-neutral approach to leading and following: participants are encouraged to learn and practice either role, regardless of gender or gender expression. Sunday Soirees are free and open to the public; no prior experience or partner is necessary to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. A comfortable, clean-soled dress shoe or a ballroom shoe is encouraged. As with all Dancing Queerly events, we ask that participants abide by our Community Guidelines.

Wrap up your Dancing Queerly 2020 weekend with a celebration and conversation on zoom.  This is our virtual reception/meet-and-greet/networking/talk back - whatever you want it to be! Bring your own beverages and snacks and come hang out!  Free. 

By registering for the event, you agree to read and abide by our community guidelines: https://www.dancingqueerlyboston.com/community-guidelines

Dancing Queerly, 2020 is made possible thanks to the fiscal sponsorship of Boston Dance Alliance, and through the generous financial support of ArtsBoston Audience Lab, Boston Pride Community Fund, Cambridge Community Foundation, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

EVENT CANCELLED Plie, tendu, degage, Chardonnay...Dancing Queerly producers J. Michael Winward and Maggie Cee invite you to join them for a fun, low key ballet barre and cocktail hour raising funds for the Dancing Queerly Festival.

Feel free to come just to mingle and watch, or participate in our fun, easy, all-levels and abilities ballet class right along the bar at Viale! Barre will start at 3:30 PM.

Cash bar and food available.

By registering for the event, you agree to read and abide by our community guidelines: https://www.dancingqueerlyboston.com/community-guidelines

Located on the ground floor with gender-specific, wheelchair accessible restrooms.

Featuring performances chosen by guest curator Eva Yaa Asantewaa. This incredible evening of queer dance work brings a cutting edge dance concert to you at home. Co-presented by Dancing Queerly and Boston Pride. 

Eva writes: "Jay Bouey, Ni'Ja Whitson, Maria Bauman-Morales, zavé martohardjono, and Orlando Hunter Jr and Ricarrdo Valentine of Brother(hood) Dance! are among the most thoughtful, driven and exciting artists on the contemporary New York scene. I have had the joy of witnessing their work and passion for community, justice and healing. Each one reminds me of what Toni Morrison wrote in Beloved: ""She is a friend of my mind."" Indeed, I consider each a friend of my mind. They see and capably gather us, helping us to put the many pieces we are in order so that we may breathe freely and survive. They are artists we need in this challenging moment and beyond this moment."

Register today for free! We'll also send you the link to Dancing Queerly Live on June 19, no need to register for both if you don't want to! 

Dancing Queerly, 2020 is made possible thanks to the fiscal sponsorship of Boston Dance Alliance, and through the generous financial support of ArtsBoston Audience Lab, Boston Pride Community Fund, Cambridge Community Foundation, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence."

Featuring live conversations, multimedia presentations, original new work, pop-up dance lessons, and more. Hosted by the inimitable TruDee with Peter DiMuro/Public Displays of Motion, Lilly Rose Valore, Queens with a Mission, Em Papineau and Sofia Engelman, The Boston Renegaydes. Twilight Escada and Olivia Blaisdell, it’s the quarantine-chic version of the show we planned to have in-person. Co-presented by Dancing Queerly and Boston Pride.   Free, registration required.

Dancing Queerly, 2020 is made possible thanks to the fiscal sponsorship of Boston Dance Alliance, and through the generous financial support of ArtsBoston Audience Lab, Boston Pride Community Fund, Cambridge Community Foundation, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

This class is part of a special Dancing Queerly Boston x freeskewl class series!

CLASS:
(full title) Community Exorcisms: Cultivating a Virtual Group Practice for Queer Communities

We will approach this class from a place of expulsion: We will shake together, breathe together and build an improvisational score that specifically exercises and safely jostles the Parasympathetic system. You can play whatever music you want at home that gets you to a place of euphoric exhaustion (I will have a suggested class playlist available through spotify). We will then take whatever information gathered from our group exorcism and have a chat. I am interested in what information we can gather from this moment of virtual gathering to imagine our futures for cultivating queer communal spaces.

SUGGESTED READING:

Darnell Moore - Coming out or Inviting in Parts 1 and 2
https://thefeministwire.com/2012/07/coming-out-or-inviting-in-reframing-disclosure-paradigms-part-i/
https://thefeministwire.com/2012/07/coming-out-or-inviting-in-part-ii/

Alfred Soto - Only when I’m Dancing Can I Feel This Free: Queer Liberation, Dreams and Self Discovery on the Dance Floor.
http://www.mtv.com/news/2891842/only-when-im-dancing-can-i-feel-this-free/

BIO:
Brendan Drake is a Brooklyn based artist who uses theatricality and disparate dance forms to create hybrid performance spectacles. He was a 2017-2018 Fresh Tracks Artist at New York Live Arts, a 2015 CDI resident artist through Baruch College and the recipient of a 2020 Brooklyn Arts Council Grant. His recent work has been presented at Danspace Project, The Brick, La MaMa, BKSD, HERE, Joe’s Pub, and The Dance Complex. Photo credit: Whitney Browne.

PAYMENT:
Any donations $1 - $30 is greatly appreciated, however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you can, please consider paying for another person to take class alongside you as well.

Venmo: BDrake-Choreography

Zoom link: zoom.us/j/3093774924
Zoom password: 640262

Learn more about freeskewl at www.instagram.com/freeskewl

This class is part of a special Dancing Queerly Boston x freeskewl class series!

CLASS:
10 Recommended Ways to Prepare for taking a workshop from me (Taja Will)

1. Do you have Instagram? I invite you to follow these accounts:

@alokvmenon

@junauda

@bunnymichael

@lalobalocashares

2. Please listen and watch the music video for Sam Smith and Demi Lovato's I'm Ready 6 times. You can do this all at once or in increments.

3. After you have watched it, I invite you write a 3 sentence review, send it to me tajawill@gmail.com

4.  Write out the lyrics in your best handwriting.

5. Lipsync this song in the shower, full drama in the face, for at least 3 consecutive showers. Note you are preparing a performance, it will happen during class time.

6. In your own way practice singing low to high, practice character voices, purr and growl, sing your most beautiful ballad, and don't be afraid to make an ugly sound.

7. If you had a theme song, something that would play when you entered a room, what would it be? Please have the chorus of this song cued up for the top of our class together.  

8. If you had a theme song that was your emotional anthem what would be? You don't have to share this.

9. Bring a notebook and paper to class, let those living around you know you will be making sounds and not to worry, but do make agreements with them around what might feel the most respectful and still allow you to take class fully.

10. Don't worry, I'm here for you.

BIO:
Taja Will is a queer, Chilean adoptee, performer, choreographer, therapist, and restorative justice facilitator based in the Twin Cities (MN). Will’s approach integrates improvisation, somatic modalities, text, and vocals in contemporary performance. Taja’s aesthetic is one of spontaneity, bold choice-making, sonic and kinetic partnership, and the ability to move in relationship to risk and intimacy. Will’s work explores visceral connections to current socio-cultural realities through ritual, archetypes, and everyday magic. Will is the recipient of a 2018 McKnight Choreography Fellowship, administered by The
Cowles Center and funded by The McKnight Foundation. Will has recently received support from the National Association of Latino Arts & Culture, the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and was a finalist for Queer Art’s(NYC) Eva Yaa Grant for Queer Women(+) Dance Artists. Photo credit: Galen Higgins.

PAYMENT:
Any donations $1 - $30 is greatly appreciated, however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you can, please consider paying for another person to take class alongside you as well.
PayPal tajawill@gmail.com
Venmo @Taja-Will

Zoom link: zoom.us/j/3093774924
Zoom password: 640262

Learn more about freeskewl at www.instagram.com/freeskewl

This class is part of a special Dancing Queerly Boston x freeskewl class series! Zoom info below.

CLASS:
AfroCuban Folklore (Yoruba) / Orisha Dance or Folklórico (Yoruba) AfroCubano, is a dance tradition of the Regla de Ocha-Ifá religious practice. This class will provide and guide movers through gaining a strong understanding and technical skill of the dances and rhythms of the Orishas to the complex Batá percussion rhythms, as well as Güiro rhythms. Through the AfroCuban rhythms of the Yoruba/Lukumí practice, this course aims to connect the body in the movements of the Afrikan influences and traditions of Cuba and to the Orishas. Aché!

BIO:
Nadia identifies as a Afro-Dominicanx and Lebanese, Queer Artist-Academic. Nadia recently graduated from Hampshire College where they studied Dance, African(a) Studies and Anthropology and will be attending Harvard Divinity School in the Fall of 2020. Nadia has received training from and performed in dance works by William McLaughlin, Sheryl Thomas, Cristal Brown, Fredrick Earl Mosley, Vincent Hardy, Heidi Cruz, Princess Mhoon, Bill T. Jones, Bebe Miller, Bárbara Balbuena, Yeniselt Galata Calvo, Eva Despaigne-Trujillo and Obini Batá, Camille A. Brown and Emilio Hernández González of the company Raíces Profundas to name a few. Nadia’s dance choreography has been shown at Boston University, Hampshire College and Havana, Cuba. Nadia is all about cultivating art and research that challenges and dismantles white supremacy. Nadia continues to work through the lens of Traditions and Religions of Afrikan origin, Survival, Blackness and the Black Caribbean Diaspora within dance and written works. Nadia recognizes that dance is a embodied tool of ritual and resistance in their research and training. Through dance and ethnographic research, Nadia has been able to navigate and communicate Blackness, queerness and the sacred. Photo by Elena Martinez.

PAYMENT:
Any donations $1 - $30 is greatly appreciated, however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you can, please consider paying for another person to take class alongside you as well.

Cash App: $NadiaIssa
paypal.me/NadiaMIssa
Venmo: @NadiaMIssa

Zoom link: zoom.us/j/3093774924
Zoom password: 640262

Learn more about freeskewl at www.instagram.com/freeskewl

This class is part of a special Dancing Queerly Boston x freeskewl class series! Zoom info below.

CLASS:
Dance is a powerful vehicle for drawing on memory, celebrating influence, and acknowledging the labor of those who've shaped our understandings of the body. In this workshop, we will engage dancemaking and improvisation practices that pay homage and play with homage to those who came before us. In doing so, we will explore queer memory that digs into hidden spaces, travels through portals, and emerges victoriously through embodied/sonic means.

BIO:
Lailye Weidman is a choreographer based in Western MA, a Visiting Assistant Professor at Hampshire College, and 2018 Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellow in Choreography. She incorporates dance, somatics, and mindfulness into her teaching with a focus on the politics of movement and embodied action. Her work has been shown in venues on both coasts, the Midwest, and Europe, and she has worked independently and collectively to produce dance events, residencies, and festivals in New England.

PAYMENT:
Any donations $1 - $30 is greatly appreciated, however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you can, please consider paying for another person to take class alongside you as well.

PayPal: lailye.weidman@gmail.com
Venmo: @Lailye-Weidman
In the spirit of homage, 50% of all donations received for the class will be donated to the House of GG: "The Griffin-Gracy Educational Retreat & Historical Center’s (a.k.a. “House of GG”) mission is to create programs, services, and resources that positively impact the lives, history, and visibility of Transgender, gender-questioning, and gender-nonconforming people. We do this through programs that promote healing justice, resilience, and organizing among our communities, particularly by and for transgender women of color, to remove barriers that inhibit our survival." https://houseofgg.org/

Zoom link: zoom.us/j/3093774924

Zoom password: 640262

Learn more about freeskewl at www.instagram.com/freeskewl

EVENT CANCELLED In 2020, Dancing Queerly will partner with the Steps in Time® ballroom dance program, to bring you Sunday Soirees at The Dance Complex. Steps in Time director and Dancing Queerly co-producer, Michael Winward invites you to step out for an afternoon of social dancing to a fun playlist of music from the 1940's--today. Sunday Soirees begin with a 30-minute tutorial in ballroom basics, followed by an hour of social dancing, including Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Cha cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Hustle and Merengue. Michael holds multiple championship titles, sanctioned by the North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association. His instruction assumes a gender-neutral approach to leading and following: participants are encouraged to learn and practice either role, regardless of gender or gender expression. Sunday Soirees are free and open to the public; no prior experience or partner is necessary to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. A comfortable, clean-soled dress shoe or a ballroom shoe is encouraged. As with all Dancing Queerly events, we ask that participants abide by our Community Guidelines.

EVENT CANCELLED Plie, tendu, degage, Chardonnay...Dancing Queerly producers J. Michael Winward and Maggie Cee invite you to join them for a fun, low key ballet barre and cocktail hour raising funds for the Dancing Queerly Festival.

Feel free to come just to mingle and watch, or participate in our fun, easy, all-levels and abilities ballet class right along the bar at Viale! Barre will start at 3:30 PM.

Cash bar and food available.

By registering for the event, you agree to read and abide by our community guidelines: https://www.dancingqueerlyboston.com/community-guidelines

Located on the ground floor with gender-specific, wheelchair accessible restrooms.

EVENT CANCELLED Queer Dance In Progress is Dancing Queerly’s new program offering self-identified LBGTQIA+ dance artists a chance to share works-in-progress and support each other with feedback.   Dancing Queerly is all about more opportunities to dance, perform, and share. As working artists, Dancing Queerly co-producers J. Michael Winward and Maggie Cee are excited to create space for practice outside of a formal education setting that’s not tied to a specific performance opportunity. Queer Dance In Progress is a free (donations welcome)  chance for up to 6 artists or groups to share up to 10 minutes of work and receive 10-20 minutes of feedback from peers in a spacious studio/theater environment. Slots are first-come, first served. 

Queer Dance In Progress is Dancing Queerly’s new program offering self-identified LBGTQIA+ dance artists a chance to share works-in-progress and support each other with feedback.   Dancing Queerly is all about more opportunities to dance, perform, and share. As working artists, Dancing Queerly co-producers J. Michael Winward and Maggie Cee are excited to create space for practice outside of a formal education setting that’s not tied to a specific performance opportunity. Queer Dance In Progress is a free (donations welcome)  chance for up to 6 artists or groups to share up to 10 minutes of work and receive 10-20 minutes of feedback from peers in a spacious studio/theater environment. Slots are first-come, first served. 

EVENT CANCELLED In 2020, Dancing Queerly will partner with the Steps in Time® ballroom dance program, to bring you Sunday Soirees at The Dance Complex. Steps in Time director and Dancing Queerly co-producer, Michael Winward invites you to step out for an afternoon of social dancing to a fun playlist of music from the 1940's--today. Sunday Soirees begin with a 30-minute tutorial in ballroom basics, followed by an hour of social dancing, including Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Cha cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Hustle and Merengue. 

Michael holds multiple championship titles, sanctioned by the North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association. His instruction assumes a gender-neutral approach to leading and following: participants are encouraged to learn and practice either role, regardless of gender or gender expression. 

Sunday Soirees are free and open to the public; no prior experience or partner is necessary to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. A comfortable, clean-soled dress shoe or a ballroom shoe is encouraged. As with all Dancing Queerly events, we ask that participants abide by our Community Guidelines. Sunday Soirees take place in the ADA compliant, ground level Studio 7 of The Dance Complex, from 4:30-6:00 pm on the following dates:

March 1

June 7

September 13

December 6

There are two, gender neutral, single-user restrooms in Studio 7.

If you have any questions about attending Sunday Soirees, please contact us at dancingqueerlyboston@gmail.com

We look forward to dancing with you!

Our famous “speed dating for dance” workshop. 4 mini classes in various styles including Vogue, modern/contemporary, and hip-hop! Queer and questioning where you fall on the dance spectrum? Dance-curious is an evening of short dance workshops ranging from ballet to ballroom for the queer community followed by a social. Dance studios can be challenging spaces for us LGBTQ folks, so come and try dance in a queer-friendly environment and connect with other dance-curious folks.

Pre-show music by Susan Putnins at 7:30.
8:00 PM Performance with 2019 Dancing Queerly artists Lilly Rose Valore, Nick M. Daniels, Toby MacNutt, Queens With A Mission, LaWhore Vagistan, Em Papineau and Sofia Engelman Dance, J Michael Winward, and Pampi. Saturday's performance is ASL interpreted. Post show mixer and dancing with Liz Nania of Out to Dance Friday and Gays for Patsy Saturday.

Advance price:  $20 General Admission, $15 Boston Dance Alliance/Student/Senior/Military

​

At the door: $22 General Admission, $17 Boston Dance Alliance/Student/Senior/Military

Some free and reduced price tickets are available for LGBTQIA+ folks in need - email dancingqueerly@gmail.com to reserve.

Join all the Dancing Queerly choreographers to talk about queer dance!