Ballaro Dance will launch our next Season in January of 2022; we have a big vision and endless passion for the next leg of our journey as we continue to grow as a NYC-based dance company and a builder of community and connection.

As you can imagine, 2021 brought us many new and unexpected challenges; we learned how to make dance, build community, and produce events in creative ways. We met the challenges head on, and surpassed them, having one of our most densely-packed and fulfilling years yet. Take a quick trip down memory lane to review some of the highlights... 

January - we produced our latest dance film, Vivaldi, at Blue Gallery (Manhattan) with filmmaker Zoran Prodanovic 

February - we launched Season 2 of SEE Ballaro Dance, our YouTube series 

March - we produced From Our Homes, To Yours, a virtual showcase featuring artists from Barcelona, the UK, Atlanta, Chicago, NYC and beyond

May - we produced The Adventures of Moon Rabbit, a virtual community performance, with Community KIDS, TEENS, and ADULTS, inspired by an Asian folktale in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month AND we had our first rehearsal retreat developing Embedded Memories with designer Allison Patrick of Aster + Quail

August - our 2021 Season Gala at Appleberry Farm (Sandy Hook, CT) featured the premiere of Embedded Memories, an illuminated performance installation using light and gesture to reflect the imprints of our scars and the power of community healing 

October - we toured for a week-long residency at SUNY Brockport (Brockport, NY) teaching classes, hosting community workshops, and presenting Embedded Memories outside on the Alumni House lawn on campus

November - we were on the road, yet again, to perform in a showcase produced by Nacre Dance Group at Universal Preservation Hall (Saratoga Springs, NY)

Throughout the year we hosted free MOVE: Community Class each Thursday and our ongoing monthly SHARE: Yappy Hour provides free networking opportunities and creative conversations for Educators, Artists & Collaborators. And there's still more to come in December...we're hosting an Art Fête at The Mayfly (12/7 in Manhattan) and performing with Lux Mea (12/11 in Manhattan.) 

Each year the vision for Ballaro Dance gets bigger; our love of building community through dance and bringing new people into our "dance family" gets stronger. 2022 has the promise of being something wonderful: returning to theaters, more in-person events, increased collaboration, new dances, more community, and a fresh start.

In order to do more, we need more.

So, here are the numbers reflecting the reality of being a self-producing dance company in New York City: a typical Ballaro Dance performance season costs at least $10,000 including venue rentals, performance stipends, per diem for artists, travel, housing, costuming, set & props, collaborator costs, music rights, and on and on...

This year, we'd like to host not one major production, but TWO. As we wind down the remaining days in 2021, we will gear up our energy and excitement for 2022. We are asking for your help to raise $20,000 before we say good-bye to 2021 and hello to 2022 and the promise of a spirit renewed. 

Won't you join us?!