About Us — Sky Hill Farm Studio

Sky Hill Farm Mission

Our mission is to bring dance forward by supporting artists in the development of new artistic work, providing a sanctuary space for the creative process, and building bridges between visiting artists and our community.

Sky Hill Farm offers free residency and living space for artists. During their residency, artists share their work with the community of New Woodstock and Cazenovia, New York, through a free master class, performance, lecture demonstration or project of their own invention.

Several years ago, after our kids were out of the house, my husband Steve and I started looking for a weekend property outside the City of Buffalo, NY, where we had lived for 25 years. Unable to find anything we both liked, we looked further out from Buffalo and finally found our beautiful spot in New Woodstock. Steve saw the 125 acres here as a place for environmental stewardship and reforestation. So far, he’s planted over 2,000 trees! I envisioned one of the barns as a studio/performance space as soon as I saw it. I had never thought about the possibility of bringing together an old farm property in the countryside with dance. But when I saw our barn, I imagined dancers and companies using the space, putting marley on the floor, rebuilding the inside of the barn and making a framework for creative energy to thrive here, and that’s what I did.

A Note from Director Suzanne Evans

Dance has always been a part of my life, whether as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, or company board member. I grew up in Knoxville and studied ballet with Joan Kunsch in Oak Ridge, TN. After receiving a Bachelors in Dance from the University of Tennessee, I took classes in New York City, primarily at the Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham studios. Subsequently, I danced professionally in regional ballet and contemporary companies, and later was a founding board member and dancer with Neglia Ballet Artists in Buffalo, NY. Currently, I am a ballet instructor in Cazenovia, a freelance dance teacher, and liturgical dancer.

For me, dance is a life practice which feeds the soul.

As a dance teacher, I live for the “Aha!” moments with my students, not just the final realization of the performance. As a dancer and choreographer, I love the creative process. I believe everyone can learn something from the process of creating a dance; from the time and focus it takes, from creative research, play, and the tools of artistic expression. So my vision with Sky Hill Farm is both to provide a sanctuary space for the creative process, as well as a format for my community to see the creative process in action.

Photo: Exit12 Dance Company

Some Photos from Artistic Residencies 2020/2021…