BAM Next Wave Festival

BAM Next Wave Festival
Name	BAM Next Wave Festival
Location	Brooklyn, New York
Years active	1983–present
Founded	1983
Founder	Harvey Lichtenstein
Dates	annual (autumn)
Genre	contemporary performing arts, dance, theater, music, interdisciplinary

BAM Next Wave Festival is an annual contemporary performing arts festival produced by the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 1983 during a period of cultural renewal in New York City, the festival quickly became a platform for avant‑garde dance, experimental theater, multimedia performance art, and international music artists. Over decades Next Wave has presented premieres and re‑introductions by leading figures from across the globe and cultivated collaborations with major institutions and ensembles.

History

Next Wave emerged from the late 20th‑century revitalization of performing arts institutions such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the New York City cultural scene, and philanthropic support from foundations like the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Its founding director, Harvey Lichtenstein, built on earlier BAM series to commission work by artists associated with institutions such as Judson Dance Theater, Tadeusz Kantor's group, and European companies linked to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Avignon Festival. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Next Wave showcased artists who also worked with organizations like Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Sydney Opera House, and attracted collaborators from ensembles such as the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In the 2000s and 2010s artistic leadership changes brought partnerships with curators and presenters tied to institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art and the National Endowment for the Arts, while the festival continued to premiere works by artists linked to the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Ballets Russes legacy.

Programming and Artistic Direction

Next Wave's programming emphasizes interdisciplinary work that bridges practitioners from dance, theater, contemporary music, and visual art. The festival has commissioned new pieces from choreographers and directors associated with institutions such as Pina Bausch's company (linked historically to the Wuppertal Dance Company), artists with affiliations to the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and composers tied to the Berlin Philharmonic and the Juilliard School. Curatorial approaches have mirrored contemporary strategies used by the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum in presenting cross‑disciplinary exhibitions, while producing collaborations with companies like Complicité, Béla Tarr's collaborators, and ensembles forming residencies akin to those at Yaddo or the MacDowell Colony. Artistic directors have cultivated relationships with directors and choreographers honored by awards such as the MacArthur Fellowship, the Pulitzer Prize in Drama or Music, and the Tony Award.

Venues and Production

The festival utilizes BAM's principal spaces, including the Howard Gilman Opera House, the BAM Harvey Theater, and the Stanley Theater (when available), while collaborating with nearby sites such as the Brooklyn Museum and historic venues in neighborhoods like DUMBO and Fort Greene. Technical production standards draw on practices from major houses such as the Metropolitan Opera and touring logistics comparable to productions that perform at the Royal Opera House and the Théâtre du Châtelet. Co‑productions often involve partners including the National Theatre (London), the Comédie‑Française, and the BAM Peter Jay Sharp Building administrative teams, while scenic and lighting designers who have worked with institutions like Cirque du Soleil and the National Ballet of Canada contribute to staging.

Notable Performances and Commissions

Next Wave has premiered and presented landmark works by internationally recognized artists and companies linked to the Tanztheater Wuppertal, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and choreographers such as Bill T. Jones and directors in the orbit of Robert Wilson. Commissions have included collaborations with composers and performers associated with the Bang on a Can collective, experimental musicians from the Berlin Atonal lineage, and theatermakers connected to ensembles like The Wooster Group and Forced Entertainment. The festival has also hosted seminal performances by artists with ties to the Talkies movement, pioneers who later appeared at the Venice Biennale and the Festival d'Automne à Paris.

Community Engagement and Education

BAM's outreach models mirror educational programs run by institutions such as the Juilliard School, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the New York Philharmonic's community initiative, offering workshops, school matinees, and artist residencies. Next Wave's engagement strategies have partnered with local organizations including the Brooklyn Borough President's office, neighborhood cultural centers in Fort Greene and Bedford–Stuyvesant, and nonprofit presenters like New York Live Arts. Programming has sought to connect emerging artists from conservatories and collectives associated with the American Dance Festival and university programs at institutions such as New York University and Columbia University.

Reception and Impact

Critics from publications aligned with arts coverage—such as reviewers who also write for outlets that cover performances at The New York Times, The Village Voice, and The New Yorker—have frequently praised Next Wave for introducing U.S. audiences to international avant‑garde work and for commissioning risk‑taking productions. The festival's influence is evident in touring circuits that include venues like Sadler's Wells, the Kennedy Center, and the Vienna State Opera's festival programming; it has helped shape artistic careers that later received honors from bodies such as the Obie Awards, the Laurence Olivier Awards, and the Bessie Awards. Its legacy persists in collaborations with major cultural institutions and in the continuing nexus of experimental performance in New York City and the global festival network.

Category:Performing arts festivals in New York City Category:Brooklyn Academy of Music