Yard Inc.

THE WINTER YARD is The Yard's first ever ""off-season"" performance and artist residency series, taking place between October and April. Launched in fall of 2015, THE WINTER YARD is the organization's newest initiative. THE WINTER YARD currently features 3-4 major dance companies annually, which have included: Montréal's renegade ice-dance troupe Le Patin Libre, NYC's percussive dance innovators The Bang Group, punk/rock Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq, Providence's social justice focused Everett Theater, and The Yard's own residence dance company, DanceTheYard. Designed to tie into the school year, THE WINTER YARD interacts directly with The Yard's island-wide dance education initiative, MAKING IT. Performances take place at the Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center, as well as in site-specific locations around the island (such as the MV Ice Arena, in the case of Le Patin Libre), due to the fact The Yard's own Patricia Nanon theater is only operable in warm-weather months.

MAKING IT is The Yard's all-ages dance-making and creativity initiative. The island-wide, year-round program is led by The Yard's Director of Island Programs and Education, Jesse Keller, who is joined by two staff Artist Educators. Additionally, MAKING IT brings guest master teaching artists to the Vineyard for anywhere from 1-4 weeks to work with specific island constituencies. MAKING IT programs take place in (all) island schools, libraries, senior centers, at the YMCA and in other partner organization sites around the island. The initiative has created regular (free) adult dance classes, open to all ages and levels, and movement sessions for seniors, including residents of the Vineyard's assisted living center.