The Community Catalyst Residency is an immersive program designed to activate meaningful collaborations between place, people, and performance.
By uniting a distinctive SITE, a partnering SCHOOL, and a thoughtfully crafted SCOPE, the residency serves as a conduit for community engagement, artistic exchange, and embodied exploration.
“Marisa brings a rare combination of professionalism, creativity, and warmth that makes collaboration effortless. Participating as a resident instructor, it was inspiring watching her engage her students with such clarity and passion that they not only learn dance, but also discover the joy and discipline that comes with being part of the arts community.
Her commitment to cultivating meaningful experiences through dance is vital to the cultural fabric of our community, & her programs create space for students and collaborators alike to grow, connect, and thrive. I wholeheartedly recommend Ballaro Dance to anyone seeking an inspiring partner in arts education & creative collaboration.”
SITE
The residency partners with a distinctive community site—such as a farm, warehouse, gallery, vineyard, or historical space—to host performances and movement workshops that animate and enliven the environment. Each chosen site becomes both stage and subject, offering a canvas for movement, imagination, and local connection. The residency invites audiences and participants to experience familiar spaces in new, resonant ways—through dance, dialogue, and shared presence.
SCHOOL
In tandem with each site, the residency engages with an educational or movement-based institution—such as a dance studio, university program, or high school—that is eager to connect students with real-world, community-rooted experiences. Students are given the opportunity to collaborate with a professional NYC-based dance company, learning not only performance and choreographic skills, but also how to create socially relevant work that responds to place and people.
SCOPE
Each residency is uniquely tailored to reflect the spirit of its location and the interests of its participants. Thematic inquiries and creative investigations emerge from the particularities of each Site + School pairing. Whether drawing from Greek mythology at a vineyard, exploring architectural form at a local landmark, or responding to the ecology of a farm, the scope ensures that the artistic process is grounded, relevant, and deeply meaningful.
This adaptable model invites intergenerational exchange, cultivates local pride, and expands access to dance-making as a tool for community connection.