Boston Dance Alliance Appoints Aaron Myers as New Executive Director

Boston Dance Alliance Appoints Aaron Myers as New Executive Director

The Board of Boston Dance Alliance (BDA) has named local dance entrepreneur and seasoned nonprofit leader Aaron Myers as its new Executive Director. Myers’ selection follows a successful seven-month tenure as Interim Executive Director during which, Board Chair John Michael Kennedy says, Myers demonstrated exceptional leadership and insightful understanding of the organization’s mission to support and promote Boston’s diverse dance community. Myers succeeds Debra Cash who served eight years in the position; he assumed the permanent role July 1.

“Aaron brings to BDA a wealth of experience and a track record of fostering social impact through arts, culture and dance,” Kennedy says. “His unique background combines creative entrepreneurship, cultural diplomacy and community engagement, making him an ideal leader to drive forward the mission of our dance-centered service organization.”

Boston Dance Alliance is the only arts service organization devoted solely to promoting and strengthening the region’s dance community. BDA programs range from fiscal sponsorship to community auditions and health screenings, to rentals of a portable dance floor, and online resources that match dance enthusiasts with classes and performances.

“I am so excited to lead Boston Dance Alliance and support the local dance community in all of its diversity,” Myers says. “I look forward to working with the BDA board, local dance artists, and community partners to ensure the continued relevance and impact of BDA’s services for dancers, whose creativity adds so much vibrancy to our city.”

Kennedy says Myers’ enthusiasm for distinctive and active engagement among dancers, and between dancers and audiences, is among his many strengths. Myers co-founded and leads the creative venture A Trike Called Funk, whose community-based, participatory arts experiences have engaged thousands of people and created hundreds of paid gig opportunities for local artists. Myers is a member of the Beantown Lockers, a local dance crew specializing in a funky style of dance from the 1970s that has been a fixture in the street and club dance scene for many years.

“Aaron’s entrepreneurial spirit, his deep connections in the dance community, and his understanding of the challenges for small companies is a huge win for BDA,” Kennedy says. “His energy is what dance in Boston needs to rise as an active creative force in the city. I think Aaron will become an inspirational mentor for BDA organizational members and dance artists of all kinds.” BDA first encountered Myers in February 2023 when A Trike Called Funk successfully applied to join the organization’s robust fiscal sponsorship program.

Before BDA, Myers served as a Global Business Development Consultant for The Kaleidoscope Group, where he developed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion solutions for global companies. His work involved documenting and disseminating best practices, showcasing an ability to influence and drive change within diverse communities around the world. Myers also served as a dance artist and educator with the U.S. State Department’s Hip Hop diplomacy program called Next Level USA. In this capacity, he led a dance academy in Abu Dhabi, and co-created the international exchange program Projeto Hip Hop BR-US in Rio de Janeiro to promote education, entrepreneurship and community-building through Hip Hop culture. His earlier work at United Way Worldwide – as Vice President of International Network Engagement and Performance – included managing a $1.5 million budget to ensure achievement of organizational goals worldwide. He was part of the team that secured more than $10 million in COVID relief funds for United Way’s international network.

Under Myers’ leadership, BDA plans to expand its reach and deepen its impact, ensuring that dance thrives as a vital component of Boston’s cultural landscape. Among his plans for FY2024/25 is a comprehensive assessment of the dance community’s post-pandemic needs, development of a strategic plan to meet those needs, and fundraising to boost the group’s infrastructure and key programs.

Boston Dance Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the local dance community. Through advocacy, resources and programming, BDA works to ensure the vitality and diversity of dance in Greater Boston.

Aaron Myers, BDA Executive Director, Image credit BDA