Dancer Bianca Calá ’26 Wins SUNY-Wide Arts Awards
Calá’s senior project, To Be a Calá, used choreography and storytelling to explore how personal history, culture, and family influence movement, musicality, and performance.
On Wednesday, State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced the recipients of the annual Thayer Fellowship of the Arts and the Patricia Kerr Ross Award winners.
Congratulations to Bianca Calá ’26 (Dance Performance), who is being honored with both.
This year, Calá and Rebecca Osborn, a visual artist and Master of Fine Arts student from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, will both receive Thayer Fellowships ($7,000 each) and will split the $1,000 Patricia Kerr Ross Award.
Rooted in Family
Inspired by her Dominican culture, her family, and the specialized training she received while traveling internationally, Calá used choreography and storytelling to explore how personal history, culture, and family influence movement, musicality, and performance.
Calá relied on a community here at Purchase to bring her senior project, To Be a Calá, to the Dance Theatre Lab stage. (See YouTube link for a full list of credits.)
“I wanted to create a piece that felt like stepping into what it means ‘to be a Calá,’ rooted in kindness, culture, music, family, and community. Through this work, I blended my cultural roots with the movement and experiences that have shaped me as both a dancer and a person.”
Studying Abroad, Finding Purpose
While grateful for the foundation that her lifelong training in classical ballet provided, Calá began to feel disconnected from the work. She studied abroad at École des Sables in Senegal in October 2025 under Germaine Acogny, whose Acogny Technique resonated with her both as a dancer and as a person. She also traveled to Greece for immersive improvisational work and to continue Acogny studies in Italy.
“These experiences opened my eyes to how deeply I value learning from other cultures and immersing myself in different communities,” she says.
“Through traveling, I rediscovered purpose through African diasporic dance practices that truly feed my soul.”
Looking Forward
The fellowship and award provide Calá the financial freedom to continue her education overseas after graduation at TRAIT D’UNION in Benin, West Africa, an international exchange program designed for dancers and teachers with strong technical and pedagogical backgrounds.
The program focuses on cultural, artistic, and educational exchange between artists from around the world and West Africa, particularly Benin. It’s part of the Multicorps Choreographic Center of Cotonou, directed by Beninese choreographer Marcel Gbeffa, whom she studied with during her first semester at Purchase.
“I hope to continue sharing dance forms that represent who I am while exchanging knowledge, kindness, and culture with others.”
The Purchase Dance Community
At Purchase, Calá found a supportive community similar to her own family.
“From a young age, I was taught to do three kind things every day and to value thankless acts of service,” she says.
“Throughout my time at Purchase College, I found a community that reflected those same values.”
Whether through work at Einstein Bros. Bagels on campus, as an RA, or with her mentors, friends, and teachers, “I was constantly surrounded by people who supported me through every performance, challenge, success, and setback.”
Calá ruptured her Achilles tendon during her very first semester here and doubted she would ever dance again. Like so many artists, she also faced self-doubt.
“For a long time, I struggled with feeling like I was not ‘good enough’ because I did not have the feet, flexibility, or lines often associated with classical dance,” she says.
“But my teachers helped me recognize that what I do have is passion, kindness, humility, and a genuine love for people and movement.”
“The Conservatory of Dance community, especially mentors like Stephanie Tooman and teachers Doug Varone, Linda Celeste Sims, Billy Blanken, Yael Levitinsaban, and director Darrah Carr, helped me realize that there is a place for me in the dance world.”
She hopes to return to Purchase one day to share her experiences.
“And to remind students that talent matters, but kindness, humility, work ethic, and community can take you just as far.”
Thayer Fellowship and Patricia Kerr Ross Award
The Thayer Fellowship, established in memory of Jeanne C. Thayer, SUNY Board Trustee from 1974 to 1984, recognizes talent, achievement, and potential as a professional artist.
The Patricia Kerr Ross Award was established in honor of the former artistic director of the Thayer Fellowship. These awards, provided each year to outstanding students preparing for graduation from a SUNY school, reward excellence, originality, and promise.
Both intend to provide post-graduate support for SUNY students pursuing careers in the arts. The awards may be used for, but not limited to, auditions, studio space, supplies, equipment, website development, rent, recording sessions, and publishing costs.