Mission & History

Founded in 1996 by choreographers and former Twyla Tharp principal dancers Richard Colton and Amy Spencer, Summer Stages Dance at Concord Academy is committed to achievement of three goals:

• To advance America’s rich modern dance tradition by nurturing new works and the artists who create them.
• To serve the greater Boston area with training opportunities and public performances that represents the highest standards of innovation in contemporary dance.
• To galvanize and enliven Boston ‘s dance community through partnerships and collaborations with other arts organizations.

The program has shown consistent growth and development in the years since its founding. Highlights of Summer Stage’s eleven-year history include the following:

• Summer Stages Dance was founded in 1996 as a three-week summer workshop by Richard Colton and Amy Spencer, who headed the dance department at Concord Academy, a prestigious private secondary school.
• In 1998, the Meet the Artist Performance Series was introduced, in which faculty members present their newest work and discuss it with audiences.
• In 1999, Summer Stages Dance moved its workshop and performances into a studio in a new, state-of-the-art building designed by renowned architect Graham Gund on the Concord Academy campus.
• In 2001, a generous grant from the Surdna Foundation provided funds to broaden marketing and expand the pool of applicants, so that the admissions process has become highly selective.
• In 2002, the Meet-the-Artist Performance Series moved into a newly-renovated Performing Arts Center on the campus, enabling the program to accommodate a growing audience.
• In 2003, the Summer Stages 2 preparatory program for young dancers ages 13-16 was piloted; it became a regular program in 2004.
• In 2003, Summer Stages Dance held its first-ever fundraising benefit, marking the beginning of efforts to identify and cultivate a pool of committed individual supporters.
• In 2004, a series of Master Classes was offered for members of the Boston-area dance community, giving them an opportunity to interact with the program’s visiting faculty.
• In 2004, Summer Stages Dance and Boston Ballet joined forces to bring Mikhail Baryshnikov to Boston for two solo performances, leading to a stronger relationship with this leading institution and increased visibility for Summer Stages Dance.
• In 2006, Summer Stages celebrated a decade of dancing with the 10th Anniversary Gala, an event that surpassed the challenging fundraising goal that had been set and provided needed funds to help secure a future for the next generation of dancers.
• In 2007, the organization strengthened pivotal relationships with the Baryshnikov Arts Center and Boston Ballet, and embarked on a new partnership with Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art.