Made in the Bronx presented by BAAD!

Modern, folk, flamenco and house dance from Bronx artists

Featuring 7pm workshop with Sekou McMiller Dance.

CURATED BY: BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance

Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance was co-founded in 1998 by Arthur Aviles (a dancer/choreographer with the famed Arnie Zane Dance Company) and Charles Rice-Gonzalez (a writer, activist and publicist). Initially situated in a community center, BAAD! made the leap to the historic American Bank Note Company Building in Hunts Point, in the South Bronx. The institution was established with the intent of creating and producing innovative, thought-provoking art of all natures, with a focus on radical contemporary dance. BAAD! proudly provides a home to women, Latinos and other people of color, the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups, all looking to create new, challenging works. Some of the highly acclaimed festivals and performances they have contributed include BAAD! Ass Women, Out Like That!, The BlakTino Performance Series, The Boogie Down Dance Series, the holiday play Los Nutcrackers: A Christmas Carajo, the film event Get Tough! Get BAAD! (focused on gay-bashings in NYC), and the distinguished Out Like That!, the Bronx’s only festival featuring pieces by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender artists. This year’s SummerStage performance features a select group of performers from the Bronx that BAAD! has specifically curated for the festival.

PERFORMING:

Nelida Tirado

Getting an early jump on the art form, Nelida Tirado began her formal training at Ballet Hispanico of New York at the age of six. Barely out of her teens, she was invited to tour the U.S. with Jose Molina Bailes Espanoles. She would soon after work as a soloist in Carlota Santana’s Flamenco Vivo, a soloist/dance captain of Compania Maria Pages, and Compania Antonio El Pipa. These renowned companies took Nelida all over the world, as she performed at prestigious flamenco festivals (and on television) in Spain and throughout France, Italy, UK, Germany and Japan. She has performed in “Carmen” with the Metropolitan Opera of NY, World Music Institute’s “Gypsy Caravan 1,” “Noche Flamenca” and was a featured flamenco star in Riverdance” on Broadway. Ms. Tirado was the recipient of the BRIO Award for Artistic Excellence (2007 and 2010), was featured as one of Dance Magazines “25 to Watch” and opened with her company Summer 2010 for Buena Vista Social Club featuring Omara Portoundo for the Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival. Most recent highlights include “Amores Quebrados” at the Repertorio Espanol, “Dance Under the Influence” 2011 & 2012, in collaboration with the Flamenco Festival USA, and a partnership with jazz great Wynton Marsalis at Harvard University. The 2016 premiere of her solo show “Dime Quien Soy” in the Flamenco Festival NY received unanimous rave reviews. Nelida, called “magnificent” by the New York Times, is currently the recipient of the 2017 Rosario Dawson Muse Fellow.

Bombazo Dance Company

Based in the bustling Bronx, this Afro-Puerto Rican dance and drum ensemble is all about Bomba. That is, the traditional song, music, dance (and spirit) of la isla Puerto Rico, and how these art forms have been richly influenced by the African/Caribbean diaspora. Mixing all those varied cultural elements together, along with experiences of the modern American émigré, this vital troupe of ardent performers present a vibrant show, as they simultaneously entertain, educate and advocate. Mixing in elements of folklore and myths endemic to the region of Puerto Rico, the Bombazo Dance Co. presents a pulsing patchwork of intercontinental storytelling. “Bomboza” means a “Bomba jam,” a festive gathering of the community to celebrate life through song, dance and good vibrations. This thriving non-profit was founded by Puerto Rican descendent Milteri Tucker Concepcion, who serves as the artistic director. She is an award-winning master Bomba dancer, educator and scholar. She leads the talented team of thirty dancers, drummers and singers, who hail from the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, Central and South America, on their booming path of Bomba expression.

 

Richard Rivera/PHYSUAL

Richard Rivera is a Bronx born, New York City based artist. Before he began dancing and choreographing professionally, he was tearing up the dance floors of NYC’s clubs. Since those days, he has amassed a wide range of experience performing, teaching and choreographing both in the United States and internationally, but still draws inspiration from his house music laden period. Richard was a member of Ailey II under the direction of Sylvia Waters and has since worked with Sean Curran, Kevin Wynn, Donald Byrd, Reggie Wilson, Shen Wei and Arthur Aviles. In 2002 Richard founded PHYSUAL – a dance company that uses movement as a catalyst for developing ideas and innovation in performance. PHYSUAL has been presented and granted awards to create new work and perform at: Jacobs Pillow Inside/Out series, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Harlem Stage / E-Moves, Pepatian, New York Mix Festival, Topaz Arts, Queens Museum, Dance New Amsterdam, Ballet Builders, Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, Pregones (Neon Baby + ASAP) & Tokyo School of Music. Recent dance/work affiliations are with Hope College in Michigan.

Mando/3VXM

Mando3VXM has had quite the journey. Starting off as a singer, he segued into life as a professional dancer, and then came full circle to DJing, with many fascinating pit stops along the way. Twenty years after he started, and he’s still crafting beats and laying down his signature blend of deep soulful house, funk, drum ‘n bass, worldbeat and classic house. As the experienced sound engineer himself puts it “Dj’ing is an art…more than just the beats, it’s paying attention to the lyrics…connecting and watching the audience…bringing the light!” A prolific sound tech and soundscore developer, Mando understands the complexity and importance of musical nuances. He’s worked with Studio Green Penguin mixing and arranging for Bach 2 the RedZone, performed live by the Richard Rivera/Physual Dance Co. Mando recently released his first single as a soloist, “This Is How It’s Gonna Be,” a passionate explosion of multicultural composition and unfettered energy. His live shows are a bouncing, rousing good time of soul-stoking elevation.