2024 FALL EVENTS
Nut/cracked BY the Bang group
Photo by Nicholas Burnham
Friday, December 20
Saturday, December 21
Sunday, December 22
Nut/Cracked — The Bang Group’s beloved, witty response to The Nutcracker — has enthralled audiences for more than two decades. Choreographer David Parker draws inspiration from across the dance spectrum, blending tap, ballet, disco, and even bubble wrap to create a unique performance that reimagines Tchaikovsky’s iconic score. With renditions ranging from Duke Ellington to Glenn Miller, Nut/Cracked transforms the familiar into something delightfully unexpected. Praised by the New York Times as “immensely entertaining” and “intensely musical,” this production combines humor and artistry in a way that will leave you seeing The Nutcracker in a whole new light.
This project is made possible thanks to the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
NEW WORK PREVIEW: John Kelly
A 2024 Baryshnikov Arts Fellowship at
Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Showcase
Saturday, November 23
This intimate, informal showing of work-in-progress Weill Boy, Brecht Girl, Eisler Mann features performance and visual artist John Kelly. He uses 20th-century art songs, movement, character delineation, and gender role-play to realize a theatrical rendering of personal themes and contemporary issues. Kelly is joined by pianist Mila Henry as Music Director and collaborator. The work has been developed in part during Kelly’s residency at Kaatsbaan.
John Kelly’s character-driven dance-theater works dramatize the lives of social outsiders and the cultural and political realities they navigate. His works have been performed at MET Live Arts, The Kitchen, Lincoln Center, the Warhol Museum, the Whitney Biennial, NY Live Arts, REDCAT, and London’s Tate Modern, among others. Kelly’s works have received 2 Bessie Awards, 2 Obie Awards, 2 NEA Awards American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius Awards, and a Visual AIDS Vanguard Award, among others.
This project is made possible thanks to the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Photo by Stephen Menendez.
Chamber Music America + Kaatsbaan present: Rufus Reid + Donald Vega
Saturday, November 16
With Chamber Music America, Kaatsbaan presents an evening of jazz with two extraordinary artists, Rufus Reid and Donald Vega, performing together for a rare and intimate acoustic concert.
Rufus Reid is a true renaissance figure as a bassist and composer, impacting the jazz world since the 1970s. He has recorded over 500 albums and can be heard playing with icons like Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, and Jack DeJohnette. Reid has written for all manner of ensembles, orchestras, and soloists, and co-created the Jazz Studies and Performance program at William Paterson University. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship and Grammy nominations, among many other accolades.
Donald Vega is a classically trained pianist from Nicaragua who “proves to be one of the most exciting pianists on the scene today” (BeBop Spoken Here, October 2023). Throughout his career, he studied with many jazz greats like Kenny Baron, Phil Markowitz, and Gary Dial. Currently, Vega tours internationally with bassist Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio and teaches at The Juilliard School and Hofstra University.
The national network of ensemble music professionals, Chamber Music America, develops and supports an evolving chamber music field through professional development services, networking events, publications, and grant programs. Founded in 1977 by a small group of musicians determined to create a more sustainable chamber music field, today its membership encompasses musicians, ensembles, presenters, managers, educators, advocates, and others, all representing a wide range of musical styles and traditions, including contemporary and traditional jazz, classical, and folkloric genres.
Photo of Donald Vega by Shervin Lainez. Photo of Rufus Reid by John Abbott.
This project is made possible thanks to the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
This performance is supported by The Doris Duke Foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of people's lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke’s properties.
NEW WORK PREVIEW: PIONEERS GO EAST COLLECTIVE
Friday, October 25
Pioneers Go East Collective shares a work-in-progress showing of their latest piece, A Sea In-MOTION. At the crossroads of dance, music video, and archival documentation, the project looks back at the groundbreaking works of Françoise d'Eaubonne, who founded the ecological and social movement of Eco Feminism. The performers shape a powerful gender-fluid landscape by reimagining cartoons that inhabited their childhoods to address climate change and corporate greed. The work will blur the lines between our fantasies and everyday realities to champion gender-nonconforming voices and launch a dialogue on LGBTQ+ agency in today's socio-political climate.
The work is being collaboratively conceived by Gian Marco Riccardo Lo Forte (director/filmmaker), ALEXA GRÆ (composer/performance artist), Symara Sarai (choreographer), Philip Treviño (production designer), with performing artists syd island (musician/performance artist), Jesse Timm (musician), Darrin Wright (dancer/performance artist), and Noa Rui-Piin Weiss (dancer/performance artist).
ALEXA Grae in Electric Blue by Pioneers Go East Collective. La MaMa Moves 2024. Photo by Steven Pisano.
This project is made possible thanks to the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
2024 ANNUAL FESTIVAL
Poster by Aaron Denton
2024 SPRING EVENTS
2024 Visual Arts Exhibition Opening
Saturday, June 1
Join us for the opening of the 2024 Visual Arts Exhibition at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park. Curated by Hilary Greene, the exhibit showcases contemporary artists living and working in the Hudson Valley. This year's show includes works by Emil Alzamora, Sequoyah Aono, Arthur Gibbons, Ken Hiratsuka, Ashley Lyon, Mollie McKinley, Ian McMahon, and John Sanders.
Admission is free. Artworks are displayed in the lobby of the Studio Complex and across the Kaatsbaan campus.
Visit 2024 Visual Arts Exhibition for more information.
Kaatsbaan’s programs and capital projects are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Arthur Gibbons, Kaatsbaalloon 1, 2024
Mick Lynch - An Irish Goodbye
Saturday, April 20
A musical experience of love, loss, and new beginnings. Directed by Will Chase, Mick Lynch, guitar and vocals.
Featuring songs and stories, An Irish Goodbye tells how Mick Lynch's music led him from Ireland to America, where he found love and lost loved ones, ultimately highlighting the human condition and the importance of family.
Mick Lynch is an Irish Singer/Songwriter from Dublin, based in upstate New York. Mick is also a founding member, along with Kevin May, of Irish band The Guggenheim Grotto (later, Storyman) which enjoyed critical acclaim in the US and Ireland.
Director Will Chase is a critically acclaimed, award-winning director, producer, and Tony nominated actor. He has appeared in over 50 television shows and starred in 12 Broadway shows including a Tony Nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He has directed award-winning short films, television and music videos, including Mick Lynch’s “Lawrence of Arabia”. His upcoming documentary about Lynch’s former band The Guggenheim Grotto, will be released in late 2024.
Kaatsbaan’s programs and capital projects are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
NEW WORK PREVIEW: Passion Fruit Dance
Photo by Lorianne Ogay
Saturday, April 6
Suggested donation
Free to Kaatsbaan members
35 minutes + Q&A
Tatiana Desardouin, Artistic Director of Passion Fruit Dance, shares excerpts of her latest work, Dimensions. This piece explores the idea of dimensionality through the lens of street dance and club dance. The performance integrates multimedia elements, including body casting, motion capture, projection, animation, live music, and photography.
This engagement is supported by The Audience Building Project, a program of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the Governor and New York State Legislature.
The development of Dimensions is made possible in part with the support of the New York State DanceForce and its members. This engagement in particular was made possible by a National Endowment for the Arts Challenge Grant to DanceForce earmarked for the artists’ creative process.
NEW WORK PREVIEW: Kyle Marshall Choreography
A 2024 Baryshnikov Arts Fellowship at
Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Showcase
Photo by Grace Kathryn Landerfeld
Saturday, March 30
Suggested donation
Free to Kaatsbaan members
60 minutes
Choreographer Kyle Marshall shares excerpts of his latest work in development, Femenine. The new piece is set to a recording of Julius Eastman’s minimalist composition “Femenine” (1974), which includes woodwinds, marimba, voice, vibraphone, piano, bass, and an ocean of bells. The pulsating, emotional journey of the score is a counterpoint to Eastman’s sometimes dark life. A complex reality of a brilliant and marginalized figure. The dance seeks to celebrate the joys of queerness without ignoring the injustices and societal frustrations we face.
Kaatsbaan’s programs and capital projects are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
2024 WINTER EVENTS
NEW WORK PREVIEW: ZVIDANCE
Ben McKeown, courtesy of American Dance Festival
Thursday, March 2
Suggested donation
Free to Kaatsbaan members
60 minutes
Artistic Director/Choreographer Zvi Gotheiner of ZviDance, in collaboration with seven dancers, composer Scott Killian, and lighting designer Mark London, share excerpts of THE FIELD, an evening-length dance to premiere at New York Live Arts in New York City on March 14–16. THE FIELD will continue and deepen Gotheiner’s thematic exploration of the collisions between humanity and nature. The piece will utilize group work, duets, solos, and trios to explore a sense of space that is potent with the possibility of growth and a deep connection to it, but also a space that is possibly infected with conflicts of ownership and possession.
Kaatsbaan’s programs and capital projects are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Open Level Ballet Class
With ZVIDANCE
Photo by Andrea Mohin
Thursday, February 22
Saturday, February 24
Thursday, February 29
Saturday, March 2
Thursday, March 7
Zvi Gotheiner has created an internationally acclaimed teaching method, inspired by the work of Maggie Black, under whom he studied for many years. Combining different traditions of ballet, with emphasis on placement and movement efficiency, this method is respectful of the human body and the specific needs and abilities of each individual.
Kaatsbaan’s programs and capital projects are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
NEW WORK PREVIEW: BAYE & ASA
A 2024 Baryshnikov Arts Fellowship at
Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Showcase
Saturday, February 24
Suggested donation
Free to Kaatsbaan Members
30 minutes + Q&A
The new work by Baye + Asa, 4 | 2 | 3, focuses on the generational impacts of climate change using the “Riddle of the Sphinx” as an allegorical structure. Reflecting on humanity’s industrial history, Baye & Asa build new worlds on foundations that are less oppressive, less extractive, and more sustainable.
Kaatsbaan’s programs and capital projects are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
The PorcH
Saturday, February 2
General Admission
The Porch is a live storytelling series inspired by The Moth where assorted local characters tell true stories to an audience of their friends and neighbors. This evening of spoken stories is a refreshing alternative to screen entertainment and has drawn a loyal following of Hudson Valley residents. The Porch has held sold-out events at local venues ranging from a town library to a friend’s barn, from an indie movie theater to The Spiegeltent, Bard’s popular summer arts venue — and now The Porch is excited to return to Kaatsbaan! Unlike an open mic, the stories are curated in advance and are sure to inspire. So pull up a chair and join us on The Porch!
Kaatsbaan’s programs and capital projects are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
2023 FALL EVEnTS
holidelic
Photo by Mikiodo
Friday, December 8
Saturday, December 9
Friday, December 15
Saturday, December 16
General Admission
The highly anticipated Hudson Valley return of GRAMMY-nominated performer and percussionist Everett Bradley's Holidelic comes to Kaatsbaan. A sensational holiday funk revue that will electrify your senses. Critics have raved about Holidelic, describing it as “a flashy, bass-heavy retro-futuristic take on the holidays” (The New Yorker) and “a holiday funk-tacular” (Time Out New York).
Bradley, known for his work with Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi, takes on the role of Papadelic, Funk’s Father Christmas, an amalgamation of George Clinton and Santa Claus. With original songs and an ensemble of top-notch musicians, Holidelic will transport you to a world where funk meets Christmas joy.
MICHAEL HEARST’s UNUSUAL CREATUREs
From left: Dylan Thurston, Allyssa Lamb, Saskia Lane, Michael Hearst, and Reginald Chapman. Photo by Bill Wadman.
Saturday, October 28
General Admission with Family Rate
Author and composer Michael Hearst, along with his band, present: Songs for Unusual Creatures, Extraordinary People, Curious Constructions + Unconventional Vehicles. The show draws from Hearst's highly successful series of books, albums, and PBS shows for a family-friendly performance.
Reading Willa Cather With Mary Stuart masterson + jeremy davidson
Saturday, October 21
General Admission
Kaatsbaan and the National Willa Cather Center host this sesquicentennial celebration of Willa Cather, one of the most singular and treasured American writers of the 20th century. Cather’s groundbreaking fiction (O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, One of Ours, Death Comes for the Archbishop) set a new standard in American literature. This special evening of brief selections from her fiction and letters bring to life the uniquely American prose of this Pulitzer Prize–winning author. The evening will feature readings from actors Mary Stuart Masterson and Jeremy Davidson, plus musical performances by Hailey McAvoy (mezzo-soprano), Jonathan Lawlor (baritone), and Nomin Samdan (piano). Selections curated by Foundation Board member Peter Cipkowski.
2023 fall festival
Poster by Aaron Denton
2023 spring festival
Poster by Aaron Denton
2023 Spring events
The Listening Room
Mick Lynch with special APPEARANCE BY Mary Stuart MastersoN
Photo by Deborah Lopez
Friday, May 12
General Admision
Kaatsbaan is excited to host the long-awaited return of The Listening Room series, with its first-ever event at our venue. The intimate concert will feature Mick Lynch and special guest appearance by Mary Stuart Masterson in an 80-minute performance, showcasing Mick's latest material, which explores various themes such as love, truth, and the human condition. Attendees can expect a unique and enjoyable live music experience in a personal, device-free setting. The event promises to be a much-needed opportunity to reconnect with live performances after a long hiatus.
About The Listening Room
The Listening Room was created by husband/wife team Mick Lynch and Deborah Lopez, who moved to the Hudson Valley from Brooklyn in 2014. In the mid-2000s, Deborah's music photography sparked many friendships with artists as the singer/songwriter music scene in NYC was on the rise. She soon started weekend music salons at her Midtown photo studio. The intimate, device-free, no-talking room soon gained momentum and even got a write-up in The Village Voice touting it as "the new music venue." It was a safe space for great music to be heard without the often noisy, disrespectful audiences common in most NY venues at the time. With the music nights becoming a favorite of artists and listeners alike, they led to some of Deborah's greatest friendships and connections, with one leading to meeting her husband Mick.
About Mick Lynch
Mick Lynch is an Irish Singer/Songwriter from Dublin, currently living in Upstate NY. He is the co-founding member of the Irish band The Guggenheim Grotto. With the US release of their debut album Waltzing Alone in 2006, the band enjoyed immediate critical acclaim, with influential DJs Nic Harcourt of KCRW and David Dye of WXPN championing the album, with Harcourt calling it "…one of the most beautiful albums of the year."
In 2015, Mick released his first solo album "Aliens, Ghosts and Lovers," recorded and produced with Greg Laswell. With his recent releases "Lawrence of Arabia," "Treading Water," and "Cold Old River (featuring Mary Stuart Masterson)" and a brand new batch of songs, Mick is excited to perform and share his latest material.
Open Studio Showing with Omar Román De Jesús
Thursday, May 4
Free with Reservation
Join us for an Open Studio Showing featuring our first Baryshnikov Arts Center Fellowship at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Fellow, Omar Román De Jesús. Omar is a Queer Puertorriqueño choreographer and director of NYC-based dance company Boca Tuya. Omar's work has been described as "chillingly beautiful" by Chosen Magazine and "heartbreaking and uplifting" by TheaterScene. Open Studio Showings give audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and allow artists to showcase their works in progress. Don't miss this exciting display of artistic exploration!
About Omar Román De Jesús
Omar Román De Jesús (Bayamón, Puerto Rico) is a 2022 Princess Grace Award Winner in Choreography, a 2022 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow in Choreography, and a 2020 Recipient of The Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellowship (Jacob's Pillow). He has been commissioned to create work on over 20 companies and pre professional schools including: The Baryshnikov Arts Center, The Paul Taylor Dance Company, Ballet Hispánico, Ballet Collective, Limón 2, MOVE NYC, Bruce Wood Dance, Jacob Jonas The Company, Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, Whim W'him, Parsons Dance, The Ailey School, Kennesaw State University, James Madison University and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Omar is currently teaching as faculty at The Ailey School.
The Porch
Saturday, April 29
General Admission
The Porch is a live storytelling series where assorted local characters tell true stories to an audience of their friends and neighbors. This evening of spoken stories is a refreshing alternative to screen entertainment and has drawn a loyal following of Hudson Valley residents. The Porch has held sold-out events at local venues ranging from a town library to a friend’s barn, from an indie movie theater to The Spiegeltent, Bard’s popular summer arts venue — and now The Porch is excited to have its first show after a long hiatus at Kaatsbaan! Unlike an open mic, the stories are curated in advance and are sure to inspire. So pull up a chair and join us on The Porch!
Scheduled storytellers include Jim O’Grady, Nath Ann Carrera, Beth Broun, Jane Brien, and Mick Lynch, and more to be announced.
2023 winter EVENTS
BLUEGRASS CONCERT BY ROB ICKES AND TREY HENSLEY
Friday, February 24
General Admission
Kaatsbaan Cultural Park presents bluegrass musical performance by 15-time IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Dobro Player of the Year and a Tennessee-born guitar prodigy Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley!
Known for their white-hot picking, stone country vocals with soul and world class live musicianship, Ickes and Hensley meld together blues, bluegrass, country, rock, and other string band music of all kinds to form a signature blend of music that defies restrictions of genre.
2022 Fall EVENTS
Native American
Hoop Dance 101 Workshop + Performance
with ShanDien LaRance, Steve LaRance + Josiah Enriquez, + Claire Dean
All ages welcome, Free admission
This open, 3-hour workshop and performance provided learning opportunities about the Native American hoop dancing tradition through its history, cultural practice, hoop-making, and hoop-dancing instruction. Included solo and duet performances by our artists-in-residence, and collaborative work with a Hudson Valley dancer. All materials and snacks provided.
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how NEA grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
ShanDien LaRance at Kaatsbaan Spring Festival 2021
From left: Dylan Thurston, Allyssa Lamb, Saskia Lane, Michael Hearst, and Reginald Chapman. Photo by Bill Wadman.
Kids & families welcome
Kaatsbaan Theater
MICHAEL HEARST + HIS BAND IN THEIR ACCLAIMED SHOW, SONGS FOR UNUSUAL CREATURES, EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE, CURIOUS CONSTRUCTIONS + UNCONVENTIONAL VEHICLES
The afternoon of outdoor, fun familv Halloween activities preceded the performance: Trick-or-treat through the Art Walk exhibition, seasonal fires, drinks + eats, and a Halloween costume parade.
2022 Fall Festival
Poster by Aaron Denton
2022 summer festival
Poster by Aaron Denton
2021 Winter
SUPERWOLVES
BONNIE 'PRINCE' BILLY & MATT SWEENEY
with Emmett Kelly & David Pajo
Co-presented by Kaatsbaan Cultural Park & folkYEAH
Matt Sweeney and Will Oldham reunite 16 years after their original underground classic, for performances featuring an album that plays like the continuation of a decades-long conversation.
The chemistry comes from lives, lived separately, in which music is crucial sustenance. We listen with gratitude and awe, knowing that we belong in there. We construct our dream selves with the faith that these selves will have their chance at life. We know what we are capable of doing and just need each other’s support to bring the imagined languages to life. — Will Oldham
I love the challenge to write melodies for Will to sing. Struggle with that challenge too. Knowing that Will’s voice will elevate the melody makes me reach higher and dig deeper for the tune. Makes me want to match it with a guitar part that holds his voice like a chalice holds wine (or blood, or whatever is needed to live the best life). I also love singing harmonies and responses to this voice of his. — Matt Sweeney
2021 Summer FESTIVAL
Poster by Aaron Denton
2021 spring FESTIVAL
Poster by Aaron Denton
Digital Performances - Created at Kaatsbaan
The Limón Dance Company
Duncan Lyle Dance
2020 Fall
2020 Summer
Festival Advisory Committee
Alicia Graf Mack, Lloyd Knight, and Calvin Royal lll
Festival opening to honor the impact, beauty, and versatility of Black dancers and creators past and present, curated in collaboration with Festival Advisory Committee.
Performing Artists
Stella Abrera • Aran Bell • Rob Berman • Elisabeth Beyer • Amit Bhowmick • Isabella Boylston • Skylar Brandt • Joseph Carella • Chris Celiz • CoᐧLab Dance • Luigi Crispino • José Cruzata • Patricia Delgado • Duncan Lyle Dance • Ephrat Asherie Dance • Ali Ewoldt • Robbie Fairchild • Jenn Freeman • Carlos Gonzalez • Tamar Greene • Tamisha Guy • Brian Henry • Blaine Hoven • Catherine Hurlin • Noé Kains • Chris Jarosz • Anabel Katsnelson • Emily Kikta • Lloyd Knight • Courtney Lavine • Melvin Lawovi • Yannick Lebrun • Neil Meadows • Sara Mearns • Jodi Melnick • Sarah Joy Miller • David Miller • Justin Peck • Damani Pompey • Sascha Radetsky • Claudia Rahardjanoto • Graham Reese • Gregory Richardson • Anthony Rodriguez • Calvin Royal lll • Léonardo Sandoval • Jose Sebastian • Gene Shinozaki • Gabe Stone-Shayer • Christine Shevchenko • Jacob Thoman • Cassandra Trenary • Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana • Anthony Santos • Gisele Silva • Kenny Urban • Nicholas Van Young • Peter Walker • Omari Wiles/Les Ballet Afrik • James Whiteside • Kristina Zaidner
Special appearance by Christopher Wheeldon
Art Installation
Brandon Stirling Baker, Kaatsbaan Residency Artist
In light : of the time
A collective collaboration of poets, choreographers, playwrights, visual artists and designers in the world of dance. Featuring the work of Jamar Roberts, Carl Hancock Rux, Hope Boykin and Alan C. Edwards. Co-Curated by Brandon Stirling Baker.
Kaatsbaan Barn Film Projections
Jacob Jonas The Company
PORTAL, Quinn Wharton
Works & Process at the Guggenheim’s WPA Virtual Commissions
Special performances by students from Bard Conservatory
2019 Performances
FALL
Junior Cervila and Guadalupe Garcia (TablaoTango) • Alejandro Cerrudo • Les Ballet Afrik (UpStream® Residency; Commissioned by Works & Process at the Guggenheim, with an October 12 in progress excerpt presented at Hudson Valley Dance Festival, Catskill, NY. dradance.org) • Flamenco Vivo/Carlota Santana (Tablao Flamenco) • Flamenco Vivo/Carlota Santana (Certamen Competition Preview) • Attic Projects/Luke Murphy • Vivo Ballet (UpStream® Residency) • 10 Hairy Legs • Makers Dance Company/Alexandre Hammoudi (with dancers from American Ballet Theatre) • Vanaver Caravan
SPRING & SUMMER
Co•Lab Dance/Lauren Post • Pro-Studio/Stella Abrera® • BalletNext • LaneCoArts • Ana Maria Lucacui and Nathan Griswold • RuddR Dance • Paul Taylor Dance Company • Jennifer Muller/The Works • Aszure Barton & Artists • MorDance • Boy Friday • ZviDance • Taylor 2 • New York Theatre Ballet • Capulli Mexican Dance Company