b'BA ABRINGING BACK THE ARTSNOTES FROM THE DIRECTORThe work presented in BAA Rocks reflects a curriculum designed for students to experience agency through self-exploration and the redefining of the arts in both live and virtual settings. As our young artists continue to transition artistically, the losses they experienced while remote far exceed those associated with traditional learning loss. The goal of BAA Rocks is to use art as an empowering reflective tool to explore past, present and future, as well as to create space for transformation and flourishing.The arts offer a singular perspective and vigor that allows for the exploration, research and redefining of ways to flourish, while encouraging young artists to expand their self concept through work that confronts the constructs of race, gender and socio-economics. The new abnormal has created significant opportunities to redefine what art education is, as well as ways art is created, developed, revisited and presented. As the unpredictability of the pandemic continues to raise and to drop the curtain on live performances, flexibility is necessary, as is seeking new opportunities for creating authentic experiences, through our art. The stage is our sanctum, as are the new innovations through which we continue to share our work. But the show must go on! Within our walls, BAA continues to create community through collaboration and, through this iteration of BAA Rocks, our students and community survive, conquer and flourish through our art. It is the resilience of this community and its commitment to collaborate and say yes to creating art that makes this work special. This performance offers hope for the future and illustrates how new innovations and ways of presenting art can provide laboratories for thought and change. I applaud the BAA community for its extraordinary loyalty to the creation of art and for pioneering new ways for audiences to continue to experience our students. William McLaughlin Director, Choreographer'