Jonah Bokaer has cultivated a new form of Choreography merged with Visual Art & Design. American & Middle Eastern, he has deeply interwoven an international career as an exhibiting museum artist; with a touring multi-ethnic dance company; with a nonprofit practice that has succeeded in delivering 4 arts facilities for younger artists.
Jonah Bokaer Choreography has authored 68 original works, produced in 35 nations, 28 of the United States, and 295 cities – including 43 Museum Exhibitions worldwide. The impact of earned, contributed, and granted funds between 2002-Present have realized 4 Artspaces, 14+ diverse jobs, $11M+ in revenue, and 1 City-Wide Festival. Bokaer is Tunisian-American, is an LGBTQIA leader, and is currently exhibiting and touring with 8 international dancers. The company is among the few to tour to the Middle East, MENA, MENASA, & Israeli regions equally: before, during, and after the regional events of 2011. Openly gay since the 1980s, Bokaer’s innovations consistently receive prizes, philanthropic support, and humanitarian acknowledgment internationally, with increasing program alignment and recognition from the global south.
Jonah Bokaer Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which oversees the choreography, visual art, and artspaces created by Jonah Bokaer. Through the support of its Board, individual donors, foundation grants, government leveraging, and more recently COVID-19 relief efforts, the organization succeeds in crafting and fulfilling a dual mission: to foster the development, research, and presentation of new performance works across disciplines, while establishing affordable arts facilities for other artists, notably Chez Bushwick (2002) & CPR (Co-Founded 2008), adjacent affordable studios in Brooklyn, and Space 428 Hudson (2016): incubator of The Hudson Eye, among others. The nonprofit during 2002-Present has served a community of 1,500+ diverse artists, supporting and impacting next generations of performing arts talent, while remaining one of the only Middle Eastern founded dance organizations in the United States. The fastest growing department of the organization is arts education, often in areas of urban revitalization.
Awards & Prizes:
• National Endowment for the Arts (Dance, 2023, 2020, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2011)
• Albert Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award (2021)
• Crain’s New York Business: “Notable LGBTQ Leaders & Executives” (2020)
• UNC DisTIL Fellowship Award (Chapel Hill, NC 2018-2020)
• Robert Rauschenberg Foundation prize residency award (2019)
• Stanford University, Mohr Prize (2019)
• 1st Place, Olympic Rink of Lake Placid, Senior Free Dance:
Quinn Carpenter & Lorraine McNamara (July 27, 2018)
• National Theatre of Serbia / Infant Festival Prize (Serbia, 2017)
• NYU Center for Ballet & The Arts Fellowship (NYC, 2016)
• Civitella Ranieri Foundation Prize in Visual Arts (Italy, 2016)
• United States Artists Fellowship / Ford Foundation (USA, 2015)
• John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship (USA, 2015)
• Prix Nouveau Talent Chorégraphie, SACD (Paris, 2011)
• Bogliasco Foundation / Jerome Robbins Fellowship, Dance (Italy, 2011)
• Crain’s NY Business “40 Under 40” (NYC, 2011)
• The Nifty Fifty, America’s Up-And-Coming Talent (NY Times, 2010)
• Rockefeller Foundation NYC Cultural Innovation Fund (NYC, 2009–2010)
• OUT Magazine (2009)
• Alumni Achievement Award, UNCSA (2009)
• Young Leader of the French American Foundation (France, 2008–2009)
• NY Dance & Performance / Bessie Award (Lighting: Aaron Copp, 2008)
• NY Dance & Performance / Bessie Special Citation (Bushwick: 2007)
• National Dance Access, Dance/USA (Mellon Foundation, 2007)
• Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative (Dance Finalist, 2007)
• Inaugural Gallery Installation Fellowship, DTW (NYC, Media Art, 2007)
• 25 To Watch, Dance Magazine (2006)
• Passing It On Award, Brooklyn Arts Exchange (Chez Bushwick, 2006)
• Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists Award (2005–2006)
• Joan Kirnsner Memorial Award (The New School, NYC 2005)
• Human Rights Award (Public Service, North Carolina, 2000)
===================================
21st Anniversary Gala:
Monday, October 23rd, 2023
===================================
Public Programs, Fulfilling Our Mission
+ Upcoming Programs
www.chezbushwick.net
www.chezbushwick.net/recess
www.thehudsoneye.com
www.thehudsoneye.com/recess
===================================
