About Buffalo Contemporary Dance

 Buffalo Contemporary Dance came into existence in May, 1998.Co-directors Amy Taravella and Leslie Wexler share a life-long devotion to dance and a profound belief in its important place in our society. Their goal is to provide the community with the highest quality artistic experiences through both seeing and participating in dance. Buffalo is home to many talented dancers who study at its two SUNY colleges and numerous other dance schools. The directors wanted to create an outlet for local dancers and choreographers through further training and performance opportunities. Taravella and Wexler also know that one of the best ways to learn about the history and philosophy of an art form is through participation. For this reason, BCD is dedicated to bringing to our area teachers, dancers and choreographers of the finest national and international reputations to work with professional dancers and students. Past guest artists have included: Carla Maxwell (artistic director, Jose Limon Dance Company); Bradon McDonald (Jose Limon, Mark Morris Dance Companies); Julia Sasso (Dance makers of Toronto); and Trish Armstrong (Danny Grossman Dance Company). In September, 2004, Buffalo Contemporary Dance presented an evening of works by the American choreographer Anna Sokolow who passed away in 2000 and who is one of the most important contributors to 20th Century dance. The event was a collaborative effort between BCD and the Sokolow Dance Foundation directed by Lorry May.

Buffalo Contemporary Dance has performed to excellent reviews at numerous venues including the Flickinger Performing Arts Center, the Elan Awards in NYC honoring the Broadway and film choreographer Rob Marshall, through Young Audiences of W.N.Y., at St. Bonaventure University and with the Amherst Saxophone Quartet.

Since 2001 we have offered classes at our studio in the Great Arrow Building in North Buffalo in modern dance, creative dance for children, African dance, Salsa/Meringue/Cha-Cha social dance and contact improvisation. We have incorporated these dance forms into our studio performances. Directors Wexler and Taravella believe that the arts can be the greatest means of accomplishing integration of different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds and for gaining an understanding of all types of people.