UPCOMING PLAYTIME

BARYSHNIKOV ARTS x The Playground NYC

Summer Playground is
on the move!!

KEERATI JINAKUNWIPHAT
Wednesday, 07/30 || 10:00AM - 12:00PM

Keerati Jinakunwiphat, originally from Chicago, IL., received her BFA from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase and was a recipient of the Adopt-A- Dancer Scholarship. She has additionally studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Springboard Danse Montreal. She has worked with and performed works of artists such as Kyle Abraham, Nicole von Arx, Trisha Brown, Jasmine Ellis, Hannah Garner, Shannon Gillen, Paul Singh, Kevin Wynn, and Doug Varone. Keerati began working with A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham in 2016. As a freelance choreographer, Keerati has presented her own choreographic works at the American Dance Guild Festival, Battery Dance Festival, Dance Gallery Festival, the Joyce Theater, New Victory Theater, MASS MoCA, Lincoln Center, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, Chelsea Factory and more. She has been commissioned to set and create works on the Evanston Dance Ensemble, the Martha Graham School, SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham, Houston Contemporary Dance Company, New England Ballet Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Bang On A Can, Princeton University, PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, Whim W’him Seattle Contemporary Dance,New York Choreographic Institute, Rutgers University, and the Juilliard School. Keerati has graced the cover as one of Dance Magazine’s ‘25 to Watch’ in 2021. In 2023, she had the honor

of becoming the first Asian American woman to be commissioned to choreograph for the New York City Ballet. Keerati was a 2024 Artist in Residence at the Baryshnikov Arts Center. Additionally, Keerati has been awarded with the Jadin Wong Fellowship Artist of Exceptional Merit by the Asian American Arts Alliance and is a 2023 Princess Grace Award winner in choreography.

RENA BUTLER
Tuesday, 08/05 || 10:00AM - 12:00PM

Rena Butler, a Chicago native, trained at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, Taipei National University of the Arts, and earned her BFA from SUNY Purchase. She has performed with acclaimed companies such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, AIM by Kyle Abraham, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, and Gibney Company. A 2019 Princess Grace Award winner, recipient of the 2024 Isadora Duncan Dance Award and the 2025 Ferradini Grander Award in Italy, Butler has created works for Het Nationale Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, San Francisco Opera, Hubbard Street, Cincinnati Ballet, and more. Her choreography spans opera, ballet, film, and museums across the U.S. and Europe. A passionate educator and mentor, she has taught at Juilliard, Jacob’s Pillow, and SUNY Purchase, and co-founded DanceLab, a free program for Chicago youth. Featured in Dance Magazine, Butler continues to lead in contemporary dance through her creations and commissions.

For more, visit renabutler.com.

OUR SESSIONS

THE PLAYGROUND NYC HOSTS SEASONAL SESSIONS OF DANCE PLAYTIME FOR MOVERS OF ALL LEVELS AT A DISCOUNTED RATE.

OUR SESSIONS ALLOW DANCERS TO EXPERIENCE VARIOUS CHOREOGRAPHIC STYLES AND IDEAS, ENGAGE WITH A CREATIVE COMMUNITY, AND GATHER RESOURCEFUL INFORMATION AND INSPIRATION FROM THE ARRAY OF CHOREOGRAPHERS LEADING THESE SESSIONS.

THE PLAYGROUND NYC OFFERS VARIOUS PRICE POINT:

2 HOUR SESSIONS : $5 - $10 CLASS FEE

3 HOUR SESSIONS : $10 - $15 CLASS FEE

4 HOUR SESSIONS : $15 - 20 CLASS FEE

AFTER DARK SESSIONS : $10 CLASS FEE

PAST SESSIONS

WE’NE HELD WORKSHOPS WITH THE FOLLOWING ARTISTS AND COMPANIES:

Fernando Hernando Magadan

Frances Chiaverini

Francesca Harper

Fluct- Sigrid Lauren

Göteborg Opera

Glo ATL-Laurie Stallings

Hubbard Street

Jermaine Spivey

Jon Rua

Kate Wallich- The YC

kidd pivot

Kyle Abraham | Abraham In Motion

LA Dance Project

Lee/Saar

Sonya Tayeh