Dance students and their teacher, Jenny Mendez, at the Beacon Center for Arts & Leadership. Photo by Ashley Mathus for Bushwick Daily.

Under the direction of Jenny Mendez, students from the Beacon Center for Arts & Leadership will be performing at this year’s Bushwick Open Studios. Performances by local Bushwick kids are a rare thing for BOS, as the festival largely consists of Bushwick implants, experimental and established artists. During a hectic weekend of art shows, installations and crowded streets, be sure to stop by Maria Hernandez Park on Sunday, June 2nd and watch the real kids of Bushwick do their thang.

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The co-Artistic Directors of Third Rail Projects. Photo via Facebook.

Ever heard of Then She Fell, named as one of Ben Brantley’s top theater performances of 2012? If not, please take note. Then She Fell is a site-specific, intimate and immersive theater experience performed at the Kingsland Ward in East Williamsburg. Produced by Bessie Award-winning Third Rail Projects under the co-artistic direction of Zach Morris, Tom Pearson and Jennine Willett, this Sleep No More-esq performance is based on Alice in Wonderland and has received praise after praise. The best news? Third Rail Projects has found themselves a home in North Brooklyn and now you can play too!

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Picture of Cowhide Drum Casket in Bamako, Mail West Africa by Mary Jane Ward.

Amery Kessler and Mary Jane Ward, artists and partners living in Ridgewood, Queens, will embark on a 26 city U.S. tour with Drum Casket in tow. Coined as “social artwork,” audiences across the nation will have the chance to experience Drum Casket, an interactive art and sound sculpture, from August – September 2013. But what is it exactly?

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MorDance company members. Photo by Kelsey H Campbell

We’ve all seen our share of online fundraising campaigns, good and bad, but can you recall ever seeing a campaign for ballet? Choreographers and dance administration teams typically fundraise event by event, and while it’s common for big name ballet companies to receive federal funding, it’s not typical for an unknown company to have such monetary luck. Despite that, Morgan McEwen, director and choreographer of MorDance, has beaten the culture odds and successfully raised over $12,000. Now with a backing to sustain a working company, Morgan is gearing up for a showcase at MMAC. We spoke with her about MorDance’s upcoming debut and expectations for her young company. Here’s what she had to say…

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During an improv jam at Gaga Intensive Europe. All photos by the author.

I recently spent eight days in Antwerp, Belgium where I participated in the weeklong Gaga Intensive Europe. I went Gaga for Gaga, you could say. But don’t get it twisted, Gaga/dancers is a movement technique created by Ohad Naharin, Artistic Director of the acclaimed Batsheva Dance Company based in Tel Aviv. And guess what? You don’t have to travel to Belgium because classes are offered right here in NYC!

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Fresh off talks of Bushwick’s gentrification and ice cream, let’s dive into something equally as sweet: chocolate. In the heart of Morgantown lies a factory where chocolate is imagined, packaged and then devoured with smiles of pure bliss. We visited Fine & Raw where Daniel Sklaar, a chocolatier and the owner of this buzzing locale, took me on a tour to see the inner workings of his delectable factory.

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Courtesy of Meggie Schmidt

Ever heard of Eve Ensler’s play, The Vagina Monologues? For those who love the script, missed out on the pop culture phenom, or any of you curious about the inner workings of a woman’s brain, fret not! Bushwick is getting its own dose of pussy power! Led by Meggie Schmidt, the Bushwick Vagina Monologues will be presented at Pinebox Rock Shop from April 5-7, 2013 and features a cast comprised of seasoned and rookie actresses who interpret the scripts as each woman would - differently.

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Photo of the Chez Bushwick building by Michael Hart

Dancers are accustomed to rehearsing and performing in all sorts of spaces: bars, attics, basements, kitchens. They are adaptable creatures, quick to size up their temporary practice lair and visualize ways to move within, or not. But when I think of rehearsal spaces for dancers in Bushwick, I don’t think shady/smelly/small, because Chez Bushwick is here. You might have heard of it- The $8 an hour (or less) rental space just a quick walk from the Morgan L stop at 304 Boerum Street. Amidst the concrete jungle, Chez Bushwick is a reliable and cheap space where creators can create and dancers can jump without having to ask “how high?”. (more…)

Photo of Williamsburg Art neXus’ old space via Facebook

WAXworks, a strand of the Williamsburg Art neXus, will host a showcase for emerging choreographers at Triskelion Arts this Sunday, March 24th. WAX currently does not have a permanent home, but the show must go on! (more…)

Photo of Whiskey Dixie by Chris Stach

Last Tuesday night, Tandem hosted Locally Grown Drag - an over-the-top, balls-to-the-walls drag performance showcase. Here are some photos of the outlandish extravaganza taken by photographer, Chris Stach. What’s the new word for fierce?