Step Lively

By Pat Waring - July 26, 2007

Entering its 35th season with style and grace, The Yard, founded in 1972 by Patricia Nanon, continues as to offer a creative haven where dancers and choreographers can experiment and perform. While the residencies and the performances remain the heart of the schedule, additional programs and special events are geared to educate audiences to the world of modern dance.

Located on a secluded 2.6- acre campus amid the Chilmark hills, performances take place in the Patricia N. Nanon Theater, an intimate barn-like building with simple wooden benches for seating. An adjacent airy room with tall windows opening to the surrounding trees doubles as studio space as well as a lobby/ reception area for performances and special events.

"This is our 35th year and our first year as stewards of this property," said Wendy Taucher who was named artistic director last November.

Dancers are hand-picked for each summer's three Yard residencies through a rigorous selection process including an audition for dancers and videotape review for choreographers. Only those who have been working professionally in dance for at least three years are eligible to apply.

According to Taucher, The Yard is well known in the off-Island dance world and attracts interest and applicants from prestigious schools and companies and from far-flung locales.

Settled in two residence houses, the artists dedicate themselves to their work, taking daily class to stay in top form, creating and rehearsing dances. But Taucher says the talented visitors also find time for the beach, exploring the Island, and socializing with colleagues at communal meals. Along with free housing, the artists receive a stipend for their work here.

"It is the bonding and the ability to be enough away from daily distractions so you're really focused on this work," said Taucher. "It effects the work in a positive way."

Watching these dancers can be inspiring, and one need not be a pro to take part in The Yard's community dance classes weekday mornings at 9 am. New this year there are sunrise yoga classes bringing dedicated early birds in to stretch and chant to greet the day. Both dance and yoga classes are mixed-level and all are welcome.

Reaching out to Island youngsters has long been a mission of the Yard. The Artist-in-the-Schools program brings visiting dancers into the classroom to teach and perform with students. This year the program is expanding so that every Island school will have at least one program per year. Multi-cultural residencies, most popular with educators and children, brings groups from West Africa, Ireland, Spain, and other countries, allowing teachers to create multi-disciplinary learning opportunities to mesh with the ethnic dance classes and performances.

Enriching the Yard resources, newly-named associate artistic directors Linda Tarney, a teacher at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and a Yard supporter of more than 30 years, and former Paul Taylor dancer and Island resident Sandra Stone bring creative energy and rich experience to the organization. The new Affiliate Artists Program establishes cooperative three-year relationships with mature dance professionals who may perform, lecture, teach, and more. Current appointees are well-known dance professionals Carolyn Dorfman, Margie Gillis, Paola Styron, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar of Urban Bush Women.

Taucher calls The Yard "magical," adding, "The number of famous choreographers who've been here who say the experience changed their lives is amazing."

But whether one comes to dance and create, to watch a show, or to stretch and move in an early morning class, the Yard's magic is available to all.

For more information, call 508-645-9662 or visit dancetheyard.org.

Pat Waring is staff writer for The Times.