by Aisha Cruse
The countdown to Christmas has begun, and The Nutcracker is everywhere you turn. But if you're not really a fan, have already seen every Nutcracker in Boston, or you're just looking for something new, don't worry, I've got you covered.
Fri & Sat, December 4 & 5 @ 8 pm
Gumdrops & The Funny Uncle
Featuring Peter DiMuro and Public Displays of Motion
at The Dance Complex in Central Square, Cambridge MA
$22/ $18 children and BDA members
I'm just going to quote the event page:"The show was created to offer a way for those who might identify alternatively to the idea of belonging to a family, being of multiple families or celebrating their families of choice. Created by Peter DiMuro, Gumdrops & The Funny Uncle has toured both coasts, always featuring professional dancers performing alongside communities, whose dancing and stories invigorate the show. The holidays can often intensify our feelings of feeling “in” or “out” of our family and social circles. Building on a series of workshops DiMuro offered - “Coming Out for Straight People and Their Friends”, where life lessons from the LGBTQ community were shared as information for all, he found there was strength in the process of active belonging, of choosing one’s circle, that could also be a learning and questioning tool among those who feel other." If you're struggling with the holidays this year, this might be a great way to "un-pack" holiday stress.
Thu, December 10 @ 6:30pm & 7:30pm
Sat, December 12 @ 2 pm
Through Sun, January 24
Silas Renier in Merce Cunningham's Changeling
Presented by ICA Boston
At the ICA Boston, MA
FREE with admission to the museum
The Black Mountain College exhibition at the ICA is bringing Merce Cunningham's early works to life. December is the kickoff for two months of performances by the Boston Conservatory students under the direction of former Cunningham dancer Silas Riener. From the ICA website: "Boston Conservatory students perform excerpts from early Cunningham dances including Dime A Dance, Springweather and People, Septet, Nocturnes, and Minutiae, accompanied by pianist Stephen Drury. For the December and January performances, the students will be joined by Riener, who will perform the recently reconstructed Cunningham solo Changeling, and joined by Drury performing music by Christian Wolff and John Cage."
Thurs, December 17 @ 7:30PM
FILAMENT : Luminarium 5-Year Retrospective
Presented by Luminarium Dance
At Oberon, Harvard Square, Cambridge
$15-$20
Luminarium turns 5 this year, and Monkeyhouse could not be more excited about it. Make sure you come out to see their one-night-only retrospective show, featuring 11 favorites selected by fans. If you missed out on past Luminarium shows and want to see the best of the best, go buy your tickets now! This is at Oberon, so audience must be 18+.
Fri & Sat, December 18 & 19 @ 8 pm
12 Dancers Dancing
Presented by Honey Blonder
At Dance Complex, Cambridge, MA
$20 Adults/ $15 Children and Senior
Thirteen Boston based dance companies celebrate the season! Featuring performances from Rainbow Tribe, Bside, Sydni Lockeby, Boston Community Dance Project, Embrace, Cambridge Dance Company, Brookline Academy of Dance, Contemporarily Out of Order, Alive Dance Collective, CreationDance, Forty Steps Dance, Steffani Bennett, and Monkeyhouse friends Ryan P. Casey and Dance'n Feet! This is also a charity event, so if you bring a new toy for the toy drive you'll get a dollar off your ticket!
Fri, December 18 @ 7 pm
Sat, December 19 @ 2 pm & 7 pm
Sun, December 20 @ 2 pm
at The Dance Complex in Central Square, Cambridge MA
$22/ $18 children and BDA members
I'm just going to quote the event page:"The show was created to offer a way for those who might identify alternatively to the idea of belonging to a family, being of multiple families or celebrating their families of choice. Created by Peter DiMuro, Gumdrops & The Funny Uncle has toured both coasts, always featuring professional dancers performing alongside communities, whose dancing and stories invigorate the show. The holidays can often intensify our feelings of feeling “in” or “out” of our family and social circles. Building on a series of workshops DiMuro offered - “Coming Out for Straight People and Their Friends”, where life lessons from the LGBTQ community were shared as information for all, he found there was strength in the process of active belonging, of choosing one’s circle, that could also be a learning and questioning tool among those who feel other." If you're struggling with the holidays this year, this might be a great way to "un-pack" holiday stress.
Thu, December 10 @ 6:30pm & 7:30pm
Sat, December 12 @ 2 pm
Through Sun, January 24
Silas Renier in Merce Cunningham's Changeling
Presented by ICA Boston
At the ICA Boston, MA
FREE with admission to the museum
The Black Mountain College exhibition at the ICA is bringing Merce Cunningham's early works to life. December is the kickoff for two months of performances by the Boston Conservatory students under the direction of former Cunningham dancer Silas Riener. From the ICA website: "Boston Conservatory students perform excerpts from early Cunningham dances including Dime A Dance, Springweather and People, Septet, Nocturnes, and Minutiae, accompanied by pianist Stephen Drury. For the December and January performances, the students will be joined by Riener, who will perform the recently reconstructed Cunningham solo Changeling, and joined by Drury performing music by Christian Wolff and John Cage."
Thurs, December 17 @ 7:30PM
FILAMENT : Luminarium 5-Year Retrospective
Presented by Luminarium Dance
At Oberon, Harvard Square, Cambridge
$15-$20
Luminarium turns 5 this year, and Monkeyhouse could not be more excited about it. Make sure you come out to see their one-night-only retrospective show, featuring 11 favorites selected by fans. If you missed out on past Luminarium shows and want to see the best of the best, go buy your tickets now! This is at Oberon, so audience must be 18+.
Fri & Sat, December 18 & 19 @ 8 pm
12 Dancers Dancing
Presented by Honey Blonder
At Dance Complex, Cambridge, MA
$20 Adults/ $15 Children and Senior
Thirteen Boston based dance companies celebrate the season! Featuring performances from Rainbow Tribe, Bside, Sydni Lockeby, Boston Community Dance Project, Embrace, Cambridge Dance Company, Brookline Academy of Dance, Contemporarily Out of Order, Alive Dance Collective, CreationDance, Forty Steps Dance, Steffani Bennett, and Monkeyhouse friends Ryan P. Casey and Dance'n Feet! This is also a charity event, so if you bring a new toy for the toy drive you'll get a dollar off your ticket!
Fri, December 18 @ 7 pm
Sat, December 19 @ 2 pm & 7 pm
Sun, December 20 @ 2 pm
What the Dickens!
Featuring CYDP, Boston Tap Company, and guest artists
Presented by Deborah Mason School of Dance and the Cambridge Youth Dance Program
At BU Dance Theater on Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA
$25-$30
A re-imagining of A Christmas Carol, featuring performances from the Cambridge Youth Dance Program and guest artists all over Boston, from Indian to Tap to Hip-hop. I just went to the website and looked at the promo pictures and now I just want to go see it? I don't know what else to tell you besides it's just that compelling.
Mon, December 28 through Thurs, December 31
Winter Wonder Dance Festival
Featuring A wide variety of guest artists!
Featuring CYDP, Boston Tap Company, and guest artists
Presented by Deborah Mason School of Dance and the Cambridge Youth Dance Program
At BU Dance Theater on Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA
$25-$30
A re-imagining of A Christmas Carol, featuring performances from the Cambridge Youth Dance Program and guest artists all over Boston, from Indian to Tap to Hip-hop. I just went to the website and looked at the promo pictures and now I just want to go see it? I don't know what else to tell you besides it's just that compelling.
Mon, December 28 through Thurs, December 31
Winter Wonder Dance Festival
Featuring A wide variety of guest artists!
Presented by The Dance Complex
At The Dance Complex in Central Square, Cambridge, MA
At The Dance Complex in Central Square, Cambridge, MA
$295/festival pass, event prices vary
The Dance Complex is closing the year with a bang! Their third annual Winter Wonder Festival is billed towards movers of all ages and backgrounds, featuring classes, workshops, discussions, and lots of community events and performances. Head over to the website for more detailed information, and the Festival Schedule.
The Dance Complex is closing the year with a bang! Their third annual Winter Wonder Festival is billed towards movers of all ages and backgrounds, featuring classes, workshops, discussions, and lots of community events and performances. Head over to the website for more detailed information, and the Festival Schedule.
Okay, okay, if you really must see a Nutcracker performance, I recommend Jose Mateo Ballet Theater and The Urban Nutcracker. They are both excellent.
