About Kaatsbaan

MISSION

HiStory

The mission of Kaatsbaan is to offer an extraordinary environment for cultural innovation and excellence by providing artists at any stage of their careers with creative residencies at state-of-the-art facilities, and presenting audiences and communities with annual outdoor festivals, educational programs, and seasonal events.

Located in the tranquility of the open countryside, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park is a 153-acre artist sanctuary located on New York’s Hudson River in the charming village of Tivoli. As an incubator for creativity and presenter of world-class artists in dance, theater, music, film, spoken and written word, and culinary and visual arts, Kaatsbaan provides artists with extraordinary studios, an indoor black box theater with a performance floor the size of the Metropolitan Opera, an outdoor stage, housing at The Dancers’ Inn and Artist Gatehouse, and additional living space at the Artist Farmhouse. Our facilities make a breathtaking and idyllic country home for creative action and achievement.

Founded in 1990 with an initial focus on dance programming that included performances and residencies, Kaatsbaan has offered unique programming discoveries with every visit over the past 20 years. The organization’s dedication to historic preservation and environmental conservation has protected its vast open spaces, undeveloped hay fields, woodlands, and magnificent scenic views of the famed Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains.

Developed from the visionary thinking of its founders, and implemented by new leadership, Kaatsbaan supports an inclusive and diverse range of artists—and artistic disciplines—and their most ambitious projects. By forging partnerships with distinguished and celebrated artists and companies, Kaatsbaan has strengthened its artistic programming, residencies, performances, and festivals.

With a passion to nurture the next generation of artists, Kaatsbaan continues to provide and advocate for outstanding educational programs. With more than 20-years of success, Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive (KBI), directed by Paloma Herrera and previously led by Stella Abrera and Martine van Hamel, continues to offer students the unique summer ballet intensive. Kaatsbaan now also offers year-round dance classes and workshops that include training for professional and pre-professional ballet dancers, and movement for community members of all ages and abilities.

Kaatsbaan Cultural Park’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

values

Kaatsbaan Cultural Park is committed to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts as we aim to present, promote, and embrace programming that accurately reflects our society. We encourage a broadly diverse group of individuals to participate in our programs and join our Board and Staff, and insist on being inclusive of all peoples regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socio-economic background, physical or mental ability.

FOUNDING

Kaatsbaan, Dutch for a playing field, was founded in 1990 by Gregory Cary, Kevin McKenzie, Bentley Roton, and Martine van Hamel, and received not-for-profit 501(c) 3 status the following year.

After a three-year search, the historic Tivoli Farms was chosen as the ideal setting to build the dream facility. Tivoli Farms, once the equestrian playground for Eleanor Roosevelt, was purchased in 1997. The studios, black box theater, roads, parking, and all underground utilities were completed in 2000 as part of Phase One. In 2002, an additional $1.25 million was awarded by NYS for the construction of The Dancers’ Inn, which was completed in 2003. Since then, Kaatsbaan’s remarkable and influential dance facilities have paved the way for other dance organizations in the Hudson Valley.

land

​​With humility, we acknowledge that the Kaatsbaan Cultural Park rests on the unceded homelands of the Lenape, The Original People; the Muh he con ne ok, The Peoples of the Water that are Never Still; and the Schaghticoke, The Gathered Waters. Due to forced land cessions and removals, their seats of government are now located in various parts of New England, Canada, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma. We honor and pay our respects to their ancestors, present and future, and we recognize their continuing presence on this land. To show our respect, we make a yearly donation and commitment to celebrate Indigenous artists, be good stewards of this land, and to share its history. We understand that this land acknowledgment cannot undo the harm that has been done. It is the first step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable space. We encourage you to make a donation to any of the following organizations: Stockbridge-Munsee Cultural Affairs, The Forge Project, The Lenape Center, American Indian College Fund, Native American Rights Fund, and National Indigenous Women's Resource Center.

To learn more about our efforts, please contact Adam Weinert, Artistic Associate: aweinert@kaatsbaan.org. For more information on the history of this land, please visit www.native-land.ca.

Artistic Advisor + Board Chair

Kevin McKenzie

Managing Director

Tricia Reed

Festival + Event Producer

Erin Reck

Development Director

Naomi Miller

Box Office + Administrative Manager

Olivia Shea

Program Director, Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive

Lydia Soueidan

Board of Trustees

Kevin McKenzie, Chair
Hilary Greene
Kevin Greene, Treasurer
Sonja Kostich
Sioux Logan, Secretary

Board Emeritus

Martine van Hamel