At the heart of every groundbreaking dance work is a vision, a space to explore, and support that allows the artist to bring that vision to life. Since 2017, The Carla Perlo Fund for Choreography and Performance has served as a catalyst for new work at Dance Place. The Fund fuels bold, genre-defying choreographers and honors the legacy of a woman who helped shape the contemporary dance landscape: Carla Perlo, Founding Director Emerita of Dance Place.
Established by the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation, The Carla Perlo Fund for Choreography and Performance embodies the spirit of artistic legacy, community care, and visionary leadership. The Fund supports new dance creations and artist residencies at Dance Place, reinforcing the organization’s ongoing investment into artists.
2024–2025 Recipient: Sarah Beth Oppenheim – Wolver Maroon
Dance Place is proud to announce Sarah Beth Oppenheim, Artistic Director of Heart Stück Bernie, as the newest recipient of The Carla Perlo Fund for Choreography and Performance.
Her upcoming work, Wolver Maroon, will be presented July 11–13, 2025, at Dance Place.
Described by Oppenheim as “a feminine howl at the blood moon,” Wolver Maroon fuses intimate solos and raucous ensemble moments with evocative art direction by Ben Furgal, lighting design by Ben Levine, and imaginative costuming by Claire Alrich and Faryn Kelly. The piece confronts existential questions while fiercely embracing caretaking, community, and the messiness of creation in our times.
“I’ve been working on Wolver Maroon for the last two years to care for my dance community and practice Parent Artistry with grace, mess, and chaos for myself, my dancers, and their kids,” said Oppenheim. “It’s an offering of the protective fangs, utter fears, and hardcore caretaking that comprise these times.”
Together, Dance Place and Oppenheim are also deepening their support for Parent Artists, offering:
- Parent Artist discounts & family ticket packs
Free on-site childcare for the July 13 matinee, with advance registration
This support further reflects Dance Place’s mission and values, celebrating movement, community building, diversity, and inclusion.
Wolver Maroon is made possible by The Carla Perlo Fund for Choreography and Performance and the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead support from the Doris Duke Foundation and Mellon Foundation.
A Legacy of Visionaries
Over the years, The Carla Perlo Fund for Choreography and Performance has empowered visionary choreographers whose work centers the experiences and voices of underrepresented communities. Recent recipients and their work include:
2022–2023 Recipient: Sean Dorsey – The Lost Art of Dreaming
Sean Dorsey’s The Lost Art of Dreaming invited audiences to reconnect with longing, joy, and expansive imagination through full-throttle dance, intimate storytelling, and exquisite queer partnering. Performed by a powerhouse ensemble of queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming dancers, the work celebrated trans bodies and futures with technical precision, emotional depth, and lush original music. The Lost Art of Dreaming was co-commissioned by Dance Place and presented in May 2023 as part of Dorsey’s decades-long commitment to community-rooted, trans-positive performance.
2023–2024 Recipient: Sydnie L. Mosley – PURPLE: A Ritual in Nine Spells
Sydnie L. Mosley’s PURPLE: A Ritual in Nine Spells is an evening-length choreopoem that channels the transformative power of deep sisterhood through storytelling, movement, and ritual. Inspired by the legacy of Ntozake Shange and the lived experiences of residents from San Juan Hill and the Amsterdam Houses, the work amplifies the voices of women and nonbinary people while celebrating radical joy in place. Devised and performed by Sydnie L. Mosley Dances, the premiere featured a multigenerational cast of twelve and included a pre-show installation, What Does PURPLE Sound Like?, honoring the stories of local elders.
Carrying Carla’s Vision Forward
“The Fund is more than a financial award; it’s a continuation of Carla Perlo’s tireless commitment to elevating dance, championing socially engaged performance, and fostering community through the arts.” André Mazelin, Dance Place’s Executive Director.
As we celebrate this year’s recipient and all those who’ve come before, we honor the past while investing in a vibrant, inclusive future for dance.
🎟️ Join us July 11–13, 2025, for Wolver Maroon at Dance Place.
Tickets and childcare registration available at https://www.danceplace.org/performances/heart-stuck-bernie-2/.