
ABOUT BAIRA
LINEAGES
Our work exists within and along the continuum of physical theatre/post-modern dance/movement-based research, spiritual investigation, mysticism, ritual practice, philosophical studies and bio humanities.
We find continuous intersectionality and draw inspiration from Prem Sadasivananda, Ram Dass, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Yuval Harari, Rudolf Laban and Irmgard Bartinieff, Fighting Monkey Practice, Meisner Acting Method, Advaita Vedanta, Qi Gong and Wing Chun Kung Fu.

SHAINA BAIRA
CO-DIRECTOR

BRYAN BAIRA
CO-DIRECTOR
HISTORY
Shaina and Bryan made their choreographic debut together in 2014 with "Bench Duet"; which premiered at the DanceNOW Festival at Joe's Pub and was selected as the festival's Challenge Winner. From 2015-16 they were East Village Dance Project (NYC) Company in Residence and received the Laban Institute of Movement Studies - Atelier Award. From 2016-18 Shaina and Bryan were chosen to participate in Pentacle's 2-year research and artist capacity-building program, "Administrative Resource Team (A.R.T.). In 2017 they were awarded a creative space grant by The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York and were Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Workspace Program Recipients for the 2017-18 season. In Summer 2018, Shaina and Bryan were invited as the inaugural Dance Artists in Residence at The Wassaic Project as well as invited to Participate in The Watershed Laboratory 2018 at Mt. Tremper Arts. Shaina and Bryan relocated to Detroit in July 2018 and in collaboration with Wayne State University, have launched 'BAIRA Intensive' - Summer and Winter International Dance Theatre Intensives for professional/pre-professional artists. Since their relocation, the BAIRA's choreographic work has been presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, The Bonstelle Theatre, Andy Arts Center, Light Box Theater, the Allesee Studio Theatre and the Music Hall Amphitheater. BAIRA / MVMNT PHLOSPHY started collaborating with NYC's ensemble Pioneers Go East Collective in 2019/20 and were featured on PGEC's creative platform, including CROSSROADS and in the project Lucky Star presented at Judson Church (NYC). The company is a Community Partner with Lending in the D (RIC3 Mortgage Broker) and are the Dance Artists-In-Residence at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Detroit. Shaina and Bryan are proud members of the Dirty Glove Bvck Michigan Krump movement and collaborate with Motor City Street Dance Community and Jerwaun "Renegade" Suddun to create cultural exchange/awareness programming through dance performance and training in Detroit and beyond.