Jonah Bokaer
is a dance and media artist based in Bushwick,
Brooklyn, and is a native of Ithaca, New York. A graduate of North Carolina
School of the Arts, Bokaer is a current member of the Merce Cunningham Dance
Company (2000-present), has worked with John Jasperse (2004-2005), David Gordon
(2005-2006), and has also interpreted the choreography of George Balanchine
as restaged by Melissa Hayden. While studying Visual & Media Art at The
New School University, Bokaer began exploring digital media to produce movement,
and has developed a unique, multi-disciplinary body of work that addresses the
human body in relation to contemporary technologies. He has been presented widely
throughout venues in the United States and abroad, including Dance Theatre Workshop,
Danspace Project/St. Mark’s Church, Dixon Place, La Mama ETC, P.S. 122,
Symphony Space, The Laban Centre (London), the ISB (Bangkok), Naxos Bobine (Paris),
and OT301 (Amsterdam), among others.
Bokaer is also the recipient of a National Human Rights Award (Public Volunteerism,
2000), and a fellowship from the Foundation For Contemporary Arts (Dance & Media, 2005-2006). His writings have been published in Artwurl, The American
Society for Alexander Teachers, DIAL Magazine, Goldrush Dance Magazine, Movement
Research Performance Journal, and NYFA Current. He currently serves on the Board
of Dance Theater Workshop, the Artists Advisory Board of Danspace Project, and
the Advisory Committee of Dance/NYC.
Additionally, Bokaer is the founder of Chez Bushwick, an interdisciplinary arts
studio that provides subsidized rehearsal rental, and a home for challenging,
experimental work in New York. Chez Bushwick is a collaborative arts center
that has succeeded in establishing the cheapest rehearsal space for artists
in New York City, and has been subsidized by the Brooklyn Arts Council, Dance
Theatre Workshop’s Outer/Space Fund, and the generous support of numerous
individuals. The independently-produced salon at Chez Bushwick, known as “SHTUDIO
SHOW,” was recently nominated for the 2nd Annual Ethyl Eicherberger Award
from P.S. 122. In October 2006, Chez Bushwick received the “Passing It
On” Award from the Brooklyn Arts Exchange.
At the invitation of GREENBELT, Chez Bushwick has been invited to join a
tri-partner initiative with choreographers John Jasperse and Wally Cardona,
to purchase a permanent facility in Brooklyn, which will be called “The
Center for Performance Research (CPR),” an artist-run organization devoted
to dance development and inquiry. This building will be the first certified
L.E.E.D. “green” building of its kind in New York City, and a capital
campaign has been launched to acquire this permanent home. For information,
or to consider a contribution, please email jonahb37@Hotmail.com