NACHMO Boston Live Performances

Location
Accessibility
What is NACHMO?
Who is NACHMO Boston?
Friday, March 14th @ 8pm
Saturday, March 15th @ 8pm
Sunday, March 16th @ 3pm
Join Us in Saying Thank You
Help Us Support the Local Dance Ecosystem
​Where to Find More NACHMO Boston
All NACHMO Boston performances are by donation
​or pay-what-you-can. 

Location

NACHMO Boston’s live performances will take place at
​The Foundry, 101 Rogers St, Cambridge, MA

Friday, March 14th @ 8pm
Saturday, March 15th @ 8pm
​Sunday, March 16th @ 3pm

Accessibility

NACHMO Boston and Monkeyhouse prioritize creating accessible programming whenever possible. We are proud to be part of the Mass Cultural Council’s Card-to-Culture program, providing low to no cost cultural programming across Massachusetts.
​
  • All NACHMO Boston performances are pay-what-you-can
  • The Foundry is accessible to people using mobility devices. 
  • The performances will not include captioning, however, copies of all text will be made available in the online program below.
  • Accessible seating is available. If floor level seats are required please include that under access needs when purchasing tickets so we can reserve seats for you.

What is NACHMO?

NACHMO (National Choreography Month) seeks to build a connected, active, and inclusive community of dance makers across the world. 

​We aim to make the creative process more accessible to choreographers of all backgrounds, means, and locations. We build this community by challenging choreographers, dancers, and movement enthusiasts to create new dance works. 

We are your choreographic kick in the pants.

​Learn more about NACHMO
Learn more about NACHMO Boston
Follow NACHMO Boston on Instagram

Who is NACHMO Boston?

NACHMO Boston is run by Brenna Banister and Monkeyhouse’s karen Krolak and Nicole Harris.

Lighting Design: Elmer Martinez
Photography & Videography: Olivia Moon Photography / halfasianlens
Friday Front of House: 
Saturday Front of House: 
Sunday Front of House: Laporsha Dees & Paige Befeler
Technical Staff: Jason Ries
NACHMO Boston wouldn’t be possible without the support of our incredible guest mentors. Their generosity and insightfulness provide our choreographers with invaluable feedback throughout the creation process. Please join us in saying thank you to Ryan P. Casey, Kim Holman, Aaron Myers, Elizabeth Mochizuki, Simon Montalvo, Christopher Croucher, Andrea Blesso, Marissa Molinar, and Elmer Martinez for helping us support this year’s NACHMO Boston choreographers!

Friday, March 14th @ 8pm

New York Luau
Exceptional Dance Company
Choreography by Lindsay Gibbons
Performed by Laporsha Dees, Lindsay Gibbons, Kaylee Mahan and Anna Martz
Music: New York Luau - The Knocks
segment: Nude Character Shoes​
Choreographed and performed by Andrea Muñiz
​Music: Don Q/Kitri Variation Ver1/Act 3 - composer L. Minkus piano Ji Hyun Kim Starvation - Repulsive Screw - Natureboy Flako
Boardwalk​
CoMotion Collective
Choreography by Claire-Solène Bečka
Performed by Jami Adams, Claire-Solène Bečka Sophie Bush, Bianca Frintu, Katya Karpova, Nadya Karpova, Jennifer Kochanski, Allison Wan
​Music: N'aie pas peur -- Les Jaguars, Surfing de l'amour -- The Guitaraculas, Jack the Ripper -- Link Wray & His Ray Men
Exploring the Chitta Vrittis: Smriti​
Anushasanam Arts
Choreographed & Performed by Anugraha Raman
Artistic Direction by Meena Subramanyam
Singer: Uthara Unnikrishnan
​Music Arranged by Sai Madhukar
Closer to Wind​
Choreography by Gavin McDowell
Performed by Laila J. Franklin, Gavin McDowell, Andrea Muñiz
​Music: "Uncertain Times" by Gallery Six
Additional Choreography: Laila J. Franklin, Andrea Muñiz
​Movement Research: Gavin McDowell, NiFe Lucey-Brzoza, Abbey Norton, Choreo Lab
Liberdade (substantivo feminino)​
Choreographed & Performed by Carmen S. Rizzo
​Music: The Bandettes in 2001 DCI & "Les Cyclopes" by Jean-Philippe Rameau
Just another bad feminist in an exploration of past, present and future.

Intermission

1519, 1226,...
Choreographed & Performed by Katherine Berman
Musician and song writer: Matthew Berman
"Be No Rain"
Choreography by Aiden K Marshall
Performed by Isabelle King, Miranda Lawson, Aiden K Marshall, Andrea Muñiz
Musician & Sound Engineer: Aubria Battle
Out To See
Choreographed and Performed by NiFe Lucey-Brzoza
​Music: Sharu & NiFe
Out To See is a five-minute Butoh performance that explores ancient pagan practices through a queer future-contemporary lens, centering a Celtic ritual where gender-fluid presentation was both invited and celebrated. It reimagines the uninvited guest as a sacred, transformative force, one that stirs stagnation, revives forgotten truths, and reorients our relationship to cosmological geographies and our relationality within them.
Duck, Duck, Goose!
Tess Saoirse Dance Company
Choreography by Tess Saoirse Liddy
Performed by Audrey Abraham, Kelsey Clausing, Joselyn Gils, Shirin Kuppusamy, Aarti Lamberg, Audrey Lehrer, Tess Saoirse Liddy, Mayte Martinez, Eliza Owen-Smith, Annabelle Platt, Abby Plone
​Music: To Watch the World Spin Without You by Mon Rovia
I recently read that your 20s are for rediscovering all your interests from the 6th grade and that 12 year old you was really on to something. When you leave today, I ask you to think about one thing you left behind as a child that you want to commit to reconnecting to.
rescinded​
Choreographed & Performed by Marissa Chura
​Music: "Calling You- Piano Version" & "Glaciers- Orchestral Instrumental Version" by Esprit D'Air
At Twilight​
Jackie O'Riley & Rebecca McGowan
Choreography by Jackie O'Riley & Rebecca McGowan
Performed by Rebecca McGowan, Jackie O'Riley
​Music: Love's Old Sweet Song, sung by Liz Hanley; Music by J.L. Molloy; words by G. Clifton Bingham

Saturday, March 15th

SOLD OUT!

Held And Poured​
Choreography by Ava D'Eon
Performed by Eliza Abrams, Julia Bresee, Samantha Claussen, Libby Danielson, Sydney Dietz, Jasmine Karaul, Hannah Yelnosky
​Music: Unsent Love Letters by Elena-Kats Chernin, edited by Ava D'Eon
An adaptation of my work Steeped. The dancers reflect on what it means to be contained in their authenticity versus when they can expand and flourish, much like tea leaves unfurling in water; this expansion often occurs in the presence of trusted female relationships.
Weighted​​
Choreographed & Performed by Shirin Kuppusamy
​Music: Midnight Asylum by Ghost Beatz
Speaker - phrase 1: Annabelle Platt; Speaker - phrase 2: Shirin Kuppusamy
Trigger warming. The following content contains mentions of grief and loss:

4 years ago today, 03/15/2021, I found out that a close friend and classmate died by suicide. Since then, I've been creating a series of works in his honor. Today, I've created a work in progress that harnesses the emotions of anger, grief, and numbness. I am challenging myself to embrace the imperfection and rawness. I want to thank everyone who has supported me the past years, to everyone in the audience today, to NACHMO for creating a safe space, and to dance for being my fail safe and voice. In honor of Austin Veseliza (1999 - 2021).
Finding Space Excerpt​
Choreography by Madison Florence
Performed by Dana Alsamsam, Lila Klaus, Nell Mancini Shira Weiss
​Music: January 30, 2020: Spitzer - Final Voyage, Sleeping at Last
This is a work-in-progress and part of a larger piece titled Finding Space. Please reach out to [email protected] with thoughts, feedback, or interest in learning more.
Palayamam Parvatisha​
Choreographed & Performed by Mahathi Athreya
​Music: Mahathi Athreya, Pranav Swaroop, Maheedhar Athreya
day job / day dream​
Choreographed & Performed by Carly Lucas
​Original audio recording/edit by Carly Lucas, "Hold on Tight" by Electric Light Orchestra

INTERMISSION

Right Foot Red​
Choreography by Shira Weiss
Performed by Madison Florence, Lila Ruth Klaus
​Music: Meditation by Walter Wanderley
Created in collaboration with dancers
Freelance​​
Choreography by Bridget Nicolo
Performed by Hannah Brown, Ava D'Eon, Emma Frank, Redacted Maxwell, Bridget Nicolo
​Music: Toro Y Moi
Anomalocaris​​
Choreography by Lucy Bertolet
Performed by Paige Befeler, Kaylee Kuehne, Carly Lucas, Sophie Nash
​Music: Blue Hum by IglooGhost
Anomalocaris (or "unusual shrimp") is a Cambrian era marine arthropod of the extinct genus Radiodont, sporting two bulging compound eyes, overlapping segments of undulating flaps on its torso, and two curling claw-like mouth parts which it used to grab and dispatch prey. Due to it's unique anatomical features and relatively horrifying size, it is generally considered to have been not just a formidable predator, but one of the first ever apex predators on Earth.
Rage/Release​
Alive Dance Collective​
Choreographed & Performed by Lila Ruth Klaus
​Music: The Feet Are the Link by Cosmo Sheldrake and Howl
This is a solo selection of a larger group work that will premiere with Alive Dance Collective, on April 26th at Mass Motion Dance
Colors of Us​
Choreography by Laporsha Dees
Performed by Amma Agyei, Jessica Angeles, Bisi Chikwendu , Laporsha Dees, Mayte Martinez, Limi Simbakalia
​Music: Leave me by Deja
Batten​
Choreographed & Performed by Sophie Nash
​Music: Battle Hymn of The Republic performed by Judy Garland
Mokshya​
Choreography by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra
Performed by Priya Bangal
​Music: Bhubaneshwar Mishra
Odissi is a classical dance from the eastern Indian state of Odisha. It is often described as the dance that brings to life the sculptures that adorn the walls of the many medieval temples that exist in this region till date. Mokshya is a dance from the traditional Odissi cannon - it is the dance of ecstasy and liberation - liberation from worldly bonds, sorrows and suffering. It ends with a benediction and a message of universal brotherhood: May happiness be to all, may everyone be free from illness, may everyone see all that is auspicious, may peace be to all.

Sunday, March 16th

First Flight​
Bell & Co.
Choreographed & Performed by Brett Bell
​Music: Heptapod B by Jóhann Jóhannsson from Arrival
This piece is the representation of spiritual signs that are given to those who are finding peace after loss. The cardinal, which is believed to be a sign from heaven, is headed off into the sky as a spiritual force for the first time. As the bird discovers it has a gift, the journey then begins.
Girl!​
100 Black Women
Choreographed & Performed by Cassandre Charles
​Music: Toni Bee- Poet
duet for cello and movement​
Choreographed & Performed by Mira Göksel & sarah nichols
​Music: original score/improvisation by sarah nichols
In Her Name
Choreographed & Performed by Manasa Jayanthi
​Music by Anoushka Shankar
​Poem by Nikita Gill
Titled after the evocative track by Anoushka Shankar, this piece weaves Bharatanatyam and contemporary movement to shed light on the pervasive struggles of women who have endured violence—whether sexual, domestic, or systemic. As women’s rights face alarming erosion across the world, the piece seeks to amplify the urgency of their stories, from everyday microaggressions to harrowing assaults that seem unending. When is enough, enough? Through movement, it explores this pain and resilience, juxtaposing suffering with the unwavering strength, ferocity, and liberation embodied by the goddess Durga.
The Veil​
Novum Dance Collective
Choreography by Dana Alsamsam 
Performed by Jami Adams, Julianne DeRouin, Madison Florence, Nicole Koontz, Nell Mancini, Olivia Moriarty, Allison Rebecca Penn, Sarah Ready, Virginia Spinks
​Music: DRAWN OUT LIKE AN ACHE by Lorn and Clearly by Christophe Filippi
The Veil takes on and dramatizes the divide in a dystopian society (or, our current American society) wherein the society upholds a smokescreen of perfection over a system of extreme oppression and injustice and uses propaganda to convince citizens that they are better off with this system.
Still # 31425​​
Monkeyhouse
Choreography by karen Krolak 
Performed by Iq the chariot, karen Krolak
​Music: karen Krolak in collaboration with a bunch of unpaid AI bots
Dramaturgy by Jason Ries
who you came in with​​
Leaps and Bounds Movement Company
Choreography by Rianna Lindsey 
Performed by Nikki Blades, Olivia Fasino, Rianna Lindsey
​Music: “It’s Called: Freefall” by Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Vacillation
Choreographed & Performed by Olivia Hegyi
​Music: In the Dark by Linus Fung
Eka-One mind​​
Souls of India
Choreography by Samadrita Bhattacharyya and Meghma Banerjee
Performed by Meghma Banerjee, Samadrita Bhattacharyya
​Music arrangement by Satyaprakash Mishra (Mumbai, India)
Souls of India is a Boston based Indian Creative Arts Collaboration company. Our vision is to bring forward untold stories of rich Indian culture that we grew up with from a modern perspective using our training in Indian classical and Bengali regional dance forms.
Today’s piece titled Eka-One mind is an exploration of divergence and convergence of two different dance vocabularies. It is a modern rendition of a thillana and a tarana which are pure dance elements from traditional Indian classical repertoire. The music is set to Raagam Dhanashree and Taalam adi in Carnatic and teen taal in Hindustani which are rhythmic cycles in multiples of 4.

Join Us in Saying THANK YOU!

In order to ensure that programs like NACHMO Boston are funded again in the future please take a moment to send a quick note to thank these cultural councils for supporting the Boston dance ecosystem!

You can send a physical note (addresses below) or send a quick email using the forms below.

Not sure what to say? Here are some ideas!
  • Talk about the artist you are here to support and why they matter to you.
  • Talk about something you enjoyed in the concert today.
  • Talk about why dance is important and why it matters to support the local dance ecosystem.
  • Talk about why you love NACHMO Boston.
  • And, of course, don’t forget to say THANK YOU!

You can also say thank you via social media by sharing one (or all!) of the images below on your own accounts or tapping the Instagram logos below to leave a note on our thank you posts to each cultural council!
NACHMO Boston is supported in part by the Boston Cultural Council, a program of the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.

Boston Cultural Council
​Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture
​1 City Hall Square
Room 802
Boston, MA 02201-2029
​[email protected]
[email protected]

    Thank You Boston Cultural Council!

    Thank You Mass Cultural Council!
NACHMO Boston is supported in part by the Mass Cultural Council’s Innovation Fund and the Festivals and Projects Grant

Mass Cultural Council
​Charles Baldwin
10 St. James Avenue, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02116-3893
​[email protected]
There are many others who make the show possible behind the scenes! Special thanks to:

The Foundry, Lauren Rigsby, Human Movement Lab, SomArts & the Somerville Arts Council, Jason Ries, Miner Nagy Family Gift Fund, The Dance Complex, Boston Cultural Council, Mass Cultural Council, The Groton School, Circe Rowan.
NACHMO Boston is proud to be part of a team of local choreography programs including aMaSSiT (a collaboration between The Dance Complex & Monkeyhouse) and the plethora of brilliant programming from Midday Movement Series. 

These choreographers from this year's live performances have also participated in aMaSSiT in the last 5 years:
Cassandre Charles, Collective Moments Dance's Kaylee Mahan, Laporsha Dees, Shirin Kuppusamy, Tess Saoirse Dance Company's Tess Liddy, Madison Florence, Mira Göksel

Make a Donation to NACHMO Boston

NACHMO Boston is fiscally sponsored by Monkeyhouse, a 501(c)3 organization, which makes all donations to NACHMO Boston tax deductible. Please consider making a donation to help us make programs like this possible for many years to come!

Where to Find More NACHMO Boston