Member
Norwalk, Connecticut
Website:
https://Dancinghistory.net
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Early Music Skills & Interests
Early Music Affiliations
Educator, Historical Dancer, Performer
Biography
Thomas Baird has taught Historical Dance for over 35 years. In master classes at The Juilliard School, Mannes School of Music, Manhattan School of Music and Purchase College Music and Dance Conservatories he has taught dances from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Ragtime Eras. Online and in open classes in New York City, he teaches four levels of Baroque Dance technique, Basic Baroque Music, Dance Reconstruction from Beauchamps-Feuillet Notation, Spanish Baroque Dance, and 18th-Century "Character" Dances. He was initially inspired by the work of Catherine Turocy and was a member of the New York Baroque Dance Company for six years, where he taught repertoire to incoming dancers, and also reconstructed and choreographed dances for operas and concerts. He currently serves as Ballet Master for the Company. For over twenty years Mr. Baird performed with Paige Whitley-Bauguess specializing in the Baroque theatrical dance repertoire, appearing with many early music groups throughout the US, Canada, and Finland. He was invited to Tokyo, Japan, and performed over many years with pianist and Baroque dancer Yasuko Hamanaka. Mr. Baird choreographed the Metropolitan Opera production of Alfano's Cyrano De Bergerac in 2005 and 2017 in Baroque Dance style. He has choreographed and performed various historical dance styles with the New York Philharmonic and their Young People's Concert Series from 2006-2012. His period-style work has also been seen on Broadway in Sheridan's School for Scandal and O'Neil's A Touch of the Poet. Thomas is also an AMSAT certified teacher of the Alexander Technique and brings the principals of the technique to whatever subject he is teaching. He teaches private and group lessons in New York City and Norwalk, CT, having trained at the Balance Arts Center in New York City under the guidance of Ann Rodiger.
