The Yard is a creation and performance platform for artists around the globe with a focus on dance. We offer exhilarating, wide-ranging, and educational arts experiences through performances, residencies, and community activities. We present international, national, and local artists; provide paid artist residencies; offer inter-generational engagement programs and classes; and bring dance and creativity-centered education programs into schools. Our programs run year-round on The Yard’s campus and in partner locations across Martha’s Vineyard (MV). We serve the island’s year-round population of ~20,000, as well as the significant influx of summer residents/tourists. Commonly perceived as white and affluent, MV’s year-round population is quite racially diverse.

With a legacy of cultivating modern dance, our curatorial process emphasizes artistic excellence and ensures artists reflect year-round and visiting island communities. The Yard hosts artists who engage the MV’s unique cultures and environment, addressing local experiences such as immigration and climate change. We prioritize long-term relationships, highlight diversity within the African diaspora, feature bilingual artists to ensure accessibility for working-class immigrant families, and foster relationships with community partners. Throughout its nearly 51-year history, The Yard has evolved into a premier performing arts organization, fostering artistic exploration, collaboration, and cultural participation across MV’s six rural towns.