New York, NY, August 12, 2024 – The New Dance Alliance (NDA) is excited to reveal the distinguished artists selected for its 2024-25 Black Artists Space to Create (BASC) residency program, continuing its mission to uplift and support Black artists in the dance community.
For the 2024-25 cycle, the artists-in-residence include Maria Bauman, Javon “Ja’Moon” Jones, and Nubian Néné. Each of these talented artists will benefit from a one-week residency, which offers unlimited access to a dance studio and a fully equipped living space at Arts on Site R&R in Kerhonkson, NY. In addition to the residency, they will each receive a $2,000 stipend. This residency is designed to be both a retreat and a creative haven, free from the pressure to produce a new project. Furthermore, the artists will enjoy complimentary studio space at New Dance Alliance’s loft in Tribeca throughout the season and will have the opportunity to showcase their work at NDA’s esteemed annual Performance Mix Festival.
The Black Artists Space to Create residency was established in 2020, inspired by Angie Pittman, a former NDA advisory board member. Pittman envisioned the program “as a means to value and amplify the tremendous contributions Black artists have historically made and continue to make in shaping our nation’s imagination, language, and humanity.”
New Dance Alliance remains dedicated to evaluating and enhancing its role in promoting, uplifting, and supporting artists of color through its various programmatic platforms. As a predominantly white-led organization, NDA strives to learn and push the boundaries of equity within the dance field. The organization aspires not only to expand this program but also to foster a community of artists to whom it can offer sustained support.
Artists for the residency are selected by an invited curatorial committee comprised of previous BASC artists and other New York-based artists. This committee is modeled after Movement Research’s Artists of Color Council. NDA’s intention in forming this committee is to transfer organizational and curatorial power to artists of color, thereby working towards a more transparent and accessible organization for all artists. This year, the committee selected artists who demonstrate a deep commitment to discourse in dance and performance within their communities, as well as dedication and longevity in practice, performance, and community engagement.
The curatorial committee for the 2024-25 BASC program includes notable figures such as j. bouey, Kyle Marshall, Babou Sanneh, and Jelani Taylor.
In conclusion, the New Dance Alliance’s Black Artists Space to Create residency program continues to play a pivotal role in supporting and amplifying the voices of Black artists, ensuring their invaluable contributions to the dance community are recognized and celebrated.