Green Street Studios in Cambridge, MA | Dance Schools

Green Street Studios

Green Street Studios provides the opportunity to explore and establish connections of their own to the traditions and commitments of disciplined movement.
History
Green Street Studios is a laboratory for dance in the Boston area. Founded in 1991 by five artists as a workspace, GSS now supports the performing, rehearsing and teaching needs of a diverse group of individuals and companies. With two studios and 125-seat black box studio/theatre, GSS is a purpose-built dance facility in a dynamic urban setting, one that offers dancers what they need to be successful.
Initially, the founders taught Modern Dance and Ballet to pay rent; their success made GSS a vital node in the Boston movement arts community. Over time, teachers of other dance forms joined them. GSS is now home to hundreds of dancers who rehearse and study, and over 20 teachers in a range of disciplines.
In 2001 the initial 10-year lease on the space expired. By that time, Central Square, Cambridge, had become a recognized destination, and rent for 2002 represented a 42% increase over the previous year. Renewing the lease and recognizing a new financial landscape pushed the organization to explore its potential and clarify its mission. GSS began evolving from an artist-run cooperative into a fully staffed center for the education and performance of dance and movement arts.
Much of the work of the past three years has focused on clarifying daily administration. The organization increased its budget 50% in the last 2 fiscal years through increased fundraising, improved financial management and growth in clientele served. Since 2005, programming revenues have increased by 38% and we employed our first full time Executive Director. GSS now serves a diverse community of over 5,500 from the Boston metropolitan area and beyond.
Vision
Green Street Studios is a dance and movement arts center that serves all ages and skill levels. GSS will develop dance audiences and serve its diverse community by expanding opportunities to experience the magic and wonder of dance and movement. We will be recognized for our artistic integrity, the quality of our dance education and our progressive programming. GSS will strive to identify and fill voids in the dance and movement community that are in harmony with our mission. The best professionals will be working for GSS. They will be experienced, dedicated to continually improving their teaching technique, recognized by the dance and movement community for their work, and committed to fostering and developing the Green Street Studios community.
As a center for developing emerging dance and movement artists, GSS will provide an environment where they can experiment, take artistic risks, perform and grow. GSS will collaborate with the Boston dance community and will bring artists, dancers and Boston’s audiences together to share the best and most challenging ideas, practices and practitioners by providing master’s classes and workshops with guest artists, offering artist residencies, and presenting performances of current and evolving trends.
GSS will transition from a cooperatively-run space to a dance and movement arts center managed by an active board of trustees, a professional staff and volunteers committed to implementing and sustaining the vision through a supportive atmosphere, sound organization and fiscal responsibility. Green Street Studios will provide affordable facilities for rehearsals, performances, and training that meet the specific needs of dancers and are affordable.