BANDALOOP celebrates the human spirit, nature, and community through dance that uses the art and technology of climbing to expand and challenge what is possible. An innovator of vertical performance, BANDALOOP seamlessly weaves dynamic physicality and intricate choreography to turn the dance floor on its side.

Born and raised in Boston, Ella Faye’s music is rooted in North American folk music, her sound branches into neo-soul, blues, jazz and country. Brought to life by a trusted team of instrumentalists, her songwriting – so far – illustrates stories of love, family, protest, and nature. In 2026, Faye’s music was played on NPR’s All Things Considered, she achieved a place on Tiny Desk’s top shelf, and she was a performer on the Tiny Desk on the Road tour. As a songwriter, she has been deeply inspired by the songwriting and vocal brilliance of artists such as Brandi Carlile, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, and Aretha Franklin.  

Kendall Square Orchestra (K²O) creates exhilarating concert experiences, bringing together nearly one hundred exceptional musicians from science, technology, and related professions who are deeply committed to artistic excellence, sharing their love of music, and being catalysts for good. Founded in 2018, K²O is building a distinctly twenty-first-century orchestra: one rooted in the extraordinary community of Kendall Square and committed to making its impact felt both in the concert hall and in the lives beyond it.

The Floor Lords started as two crews in Boston in 1981. Two became one. A powerhouse built on the floor. For 45 years the Floor Lords have used hip hop dance to reach young people, focused on the positive impact of the culture. Through performance, competition, and teaching, the Floor Lords and the Flava Squad extended family carry the mission. Locally. Worldwide. One circle. Same heart since day one. 

Sidy Maiga is a master djembe artist from Mali whose work bridges traditional West African music with contemporary global collaborations. A lifelong student of Mali’s master drummers, his work emphasizes cultural connection, healing, and community engagement through music that preserves traditional rhythms while collaborating across genres including Latin, blues, and Brazilian music. Maiga is the founder and artistic director of Afrika Nyaga, Rhode Island’s West African Dance and Drum Festival, and Artistic Director of the RI Cultural Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting African culture through education, performance, and community programming.

For over 30 years, Gamelan Galak Tika has been pushing the boundaries of Balinese gamelan in America, fusing tradition with cutting-edge innovation. Founded in 1993 by Evan Ziporyn, Desak Made Suarti Laksmi, and Nyoman Catra, the group has captivated audiences at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, BAM Next Wave, Bang on a Can, Boston ICA, Cleveland Museum of Art, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and at venues and universities throughout the northeast United States. In 2005, they electrified Bali itself, performing at the Bali International Arts Festival, Kuta Beach, and in villages across the island. Galak Tika thrives on bold, boundary-breaking collaborations, commissioning works from both Balinese and American composers and seamlessly blending gamelan with Western instruments. Today’s performance will feature traditional chamber gamelan music for the Balinese wayang kulit shadow play. The performers are Ian Coss, Nick Smucker, Erin Thomas, and Evan Ziporyn.

Purnima Thakre teaches Bollywood dance in the Boston area to everyone from age 3 to 99. Her life purpose is making the joy of dance accessible to people of every age, race, ability, and gender. She especially loves teaching non-dancers, those of us with two left feet. Born in Mumbai and raised on classical dance and Bollywood music, she brings that joy and energy to every class. She has led events with 300+ dancers, taught at more than 10 public libraries, community centers, and senior centers, and got senators dancing at the Massachusetts State House.