BAAD! is proud to celebrate 25 years of empowering diverse voices in the Bronx!
Throughout 2024, we'll be hosting a series of events to celebrate this quarter-century milestone.
DATE
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 | 6PM
LOCATION
Midtown Loft & Terrace
267 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10016
CONTACT
For more information please contact Cora Hyatt at
cora(at)baadbronx.org or 718-568-9780
Iris Morales is a lifelong activist and organizer for social justice, racial equality, women’s rights, and the decolonization of Puerto Rico. She is perhaps best known for her work with The Young Lords, a Puerto Rican community activist group in the United States and her feminist movements within the organization.
Get ready to shine at the BAAD!25 Bling Ball! Join us for a dazzling evening celebrating the 25th anniversary of BAAD!–The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance!
To honor our rich history of empowering women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ communities through cutting-edge art, we're putting the spotlight on some incredible individuals who have inspired us along our 25-year journey. Honorees include Young Lords activist Iris Morales, Pose star Jason A. Rodriguez, and ballroom legend, Javier Madrid.
Our MC for the evening will be none other than the legendary and iconic entertainer, Egyptt LaBeija, and keeping us grooving all night long will be the fabulous DJs, The Illustrious Blacks. Plus, opera singer Jay Saint Flono, dancers Antonio Ramos & José Lapaz-Rodriguez & more will take the stage for mesmerizing performances!
Be sure to bring your best bling as we celebrate 25 years of artistic excellence and welcome the sparkling future of BAAD!
HONOREES
IRIS MORALES
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EGYPTT LABEIJA
MC
Iris Morales is a lifelong activist and organizer for social justice, racial equality, women’s rights, and the decolonization of Puerto Rico. She is perhaps best known for her work with The Young Lords, a Puerto Rican community activist group in the United States and her feminist movements within the organization.
JASON A. RODRIGUEZ
Out Like That Icon
Jason A. Rodriguez is a Dominican-American actor and dancer who was born and raised in Washington Heights. He was trained in voguing by Benny Ninja, Dorit Koppel, and Kevin Wynn. Jason starred as Lamar in Ryan Murphy’s Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated series Pose.
Javier Madrid is a legendary vogue dancer and teacher of the ballroom scene. Madrid is a member of the Legendary House of Ninja founded by the late Willi Ninja. He won the Vogue Champion of the Year award at the House Dance International festival for three consecutive years from 2007-2009.
THE ILLUSTRIOUS BLACKS
DJs
Jason A. Rodriguez is a Dominican-American actor and dancer who was born and raised in Washington Heights. He was trained in voguing by Benny Ninja, Dorit Koppel, and Kevin Wynn. Jason starred as Lamar in Ryan Murphy’s Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated series Pose.
JAVIER MADRID
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ENTERTAINMENT
PERFORMANCES BY
JAY SAINT FLONO
Singer
Jay Saint Flono is a classical singer, actor, and librettist from Brooklyn. Jay has garnered acclaim for their vibrant career in opera, highlighted by recent performances with New York City Opera and Harlem Opera Theater.
ANTONIO RAMOS
Dancer
Antonio Ramos is the Emmy®-nominated and Peabody Award-winning co-creator, executive producer, director and writer of FX’s groundbreaking drama series Pose. In 2020, he was named one of the “50 Most Powerful LGBTQ Players in Hollywood” by the Hollywood Reporter.
STEVEN CANALS
Get Tough! Get BAAD! Icon
Steven Canals is the Emmy®-nominated and Peabody Award-winning co-creator, executive producer, director and writer of FX’s groundbreaking drama series Pose. In 2020, he was named one of the “50 Most Powerful LGBTQ Players in Hollywood” by the Hollywood Reporter.
JOSÉ LAPAZ-RODRIGUEZ
Dancer
Jose Lapaz-Rodriguez is the Emmy®-nominated and Peabody Award-winning co-creator, executive producer, director and writer of FX’s groundbreaking drama series Pose. In 2020, he was named one of the “50 Most Powerful LGBTQ Players in Hollywood” by the Hollywood Reporter.