"A funky and welcoming performance space." -The New York Ti mes The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance was created by Bessie Award-winning dancer/choreographer, Arthur Aviles along with the help of the Point Community Development Corporation. For the first part of the project, they worked with the building owners to convert 9000 square feet of raw warehouse space into a performance/workshop space, and artist's studios. The performance area (3500 sq. ft.) houses BAAD! one of the new hot performance spaces in New York City and is the home of Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre dance company. The artist studios house painters, sculptors, designers and visual artists. The warehouse space is located in the legendary American Banknote Building.

The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance is a 70 seat performance and workshop space dedicated to presenting challenging works of established and emerging choreographers, dancers, playwrights, musicians, visual artists, poets, writers and directors.

BAAD! is located in the legendary American Banknote Building. Built in 1911, the warehouse originally manufactured currency for foreign countries. It was sold in the 1970's to Walter Kahn Associates, which converted the building into an apparel center. The space occupied by BAAD! was a sewing shop but had been abandoned and neglected for about ten years before Aviles had the dream in 1998 to have a concert in the space. With help from The Point, members of
his company, local residents and friends, cleaned the space for a weekend performance.

The space was lit with scoop lamps, the chairs were borrowed from a local restaurant, a ballroom/disco floor was placed over the concrete floor and covered with Marley borrowed from the Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane dance company and the sound system was lent by a local DJ. The effort and energy from that performance inspired Aviles to work with the landlords to create a permanent space for dance and performance in the building. The landlord along with help from the Point built the artist studios, and Aviles began to create BAAD! by replacing 76 broken windows, purchasing chairs and raising money for a sprung wood floor. The floor, constructed by master carpenter Michael Glazebrook (a Point Board member) with advice from James Irving of the Joyce Theatre, was funded through the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and local "bake sales." The floor's crowning jewel was a professional marley floor that was purchased with funds from DTW's Outer/Space 2001 grant.

In addition to two concerts per year presented by AATT, BAAD! annually presents BAAD! ASS WOMEN, a cultural celebration of works by women; the Boogie Down Dance Series, a spring festival of dance in the Bronx; OUT LIKE THAT!, the Bronx's only fest celebrating works by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender artists during the month of June; and the BlakTino Playwrights Showcase, presenting the works of Black, Latino and playwrights of mixed race, in the fall. The space also sponsors BAAD! Eyes, the visual arts component which curates visual art exhibitions to coincide with each of BAAD!'s festivals.

BAAD!, AATT and their presentations have contributed to moving the Hunts Point area of the Bronx to its next level as an arts and entertainment district.

| Home | History | Directions | Schedule | Tickets | Photos | Space Rental | AATT | Links | Contact Info. | Donations | Store |

Copyright © 2002-2004 Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance
Web site questions or suggestions E-mail Webmaster