Center for Performance Research

The Center for Performance Research, commonly known as CPR, is a nonprofit performing-arts organization based in Brooklyn, New York. Its central purpose is to support artists as they develop new work in contemporary dance, performance, and other time-based art forms. Rather than operating primarily as a producing company with a fixed repertory, CPR functions as an artist-support platform: it provides space, residencies, performances, research opportunities, and related forms of practical and institutional assistance for artists whose work often requires experimentation before public presentation. The organization emerged from an unusual partnership between real-estate development, community-oriented architecture, and the New York contemporary-performance field. Developer Derek Denckla purchased a one-story plumbing-warehouse building at 361 Manhattan Avenue in 2004. His plan was to create a permanent home for an arts organization while subsidizing the facility through the responsible sale of condominium units to existing residents. The resulting Greenbelt development included eight residential units and was designed as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Gold-certified green building. The arts space was offered below market value, at a stated price of $650,000, but the proposal initially encountered skepticism from parts of the arts community. In 2005, Denckla began discussions with choreographer John Jasperse and Thin Man Dance. Because that organization could not acquire and operate the center alone, Denckla subsequently approached dancer and choreographer Jonah Bokaer and helped facilitate the creation of CPR as an independent nonprofit. Thin Man Dance and Bokaer's organization each raised $175,000, while the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs contributed $250,000 toward construction and equipment. This financing structure enabled the conversion of the former warehouse into a dedicated performance and rehearsal facility. CPR's work sits at the intersection of artist development, contemporary choreography, experimental performance, and cultural infrastructure. Its value lies not only in presenting completed performances, but also in supporting the less visible stages of artistic production: rehearsal, research, iteration, technical testing, and audience engagement. The organization is consequently associated with emerging and established artists working across movement, performance, and hybrid time-based practices rather than with a single artistic style or commercial product line. Leadership has changed several times. Dr. Charlotte Farrell served as executive director before Alexandra Rosenberg assumed the role in November 2020. Jacklyn Biskup became executive director in August 2025. These transitions reflect CPR's continuing institutional development while preserving its core mission of providing resources and visibility to experimental performance makers. CPR remains an active United States nonprofit arts institution, although the available reference material does not specify its current budget, detailed programming schedule, or official website address.

The Center for Performance Research was created in Brooklyn as a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping artists develop new work in contemporary dance, performance, and time-based art. Its origin was closely tied to the redevelopment of a one-story industrial property at 361 Manhattan Avenue. In 2004, developer Derek Denckla purchased the building, which had been used as a plumbing warehouse, for $875,000. Denckla envisioned a project that would provide a permanent home for an arts organization while using residential development to make the cultural space financially viable. The related Greenbelt project ultimately contained eight housing units and received LEED Gold certification for its environmental design. The proposed arts space was offered for $650,000, a figure described as below market value. The arrangement was initially met with skepticism in the local arts community, in part because the proposed ownership and financing model differed from the more conventional ways that arts organizations establish facilities. Denckla began discussions in 2005 with choreographer John Jasperse and Thin Man Dance. Thin Man Dance was interested in the opportunity but did not have the resources to purchase the center independently. Denckla then approached dancer and choreographer Jonah Bokaer. Through discussions involving Bokaer and Jasperse, an independent nonprofit structure was assembled for the facility. The organizations associated with Bokaer and Jasperse each raised $175,000. The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs added $250,000 for construction and equipment. Together, these contributions supported the conversion of the former warehouse into a venue and working environment for contemporary performance. The resulting Center for Performance Research was not established as a conventional commercial theater or as a company devoted to one choreographer. Its institutional model emphasized the conditions required for artists to make work: access to space, time for investigation, opportunities to rehearse and test ideas, and occasions to share works with audiences. Its focus on contemporary dance, performance, and time-based art placed it within New York's broader experimental and interdisciplinary performance ecology. CPR's role has therefore included both presentation and development. Artists can use the organization as a setting in which projects evolve before, during, or alongside public performance. This orientation is particularly important for forms that do not fit neatly into traditional theater, gallery, or dance categories and that may require adaptable environments, extended research periods, or collaboration across artistic disciplines. The organization has experienced leadership succession while retaining its artist-centered mission. Dr. Charlotte Farrell served as executive director before Alexandra Rosenberg took over in November 2020. In August 2025, Jacklyn Biskup became executive director. The available reference material does not provide a full program archive, financial history, or detailed account of all artists and works presented by CPR. It does, however, establish CPR as an active nonprofit center whose principal contribution is the provision of infrastructure and institutional support for new performance work.

• 2025

  Jacklyn Biskup becomes executive director

  [1]Center for Performance Researchen.wikipedia.org

  Jacklyn Biskup assumed the executive director position in August.

• 2020

  Alexandra Rosenberg becomes executive director

  [1]Center for Performance Researchen.wikipedia.org

  Alexandra Rosenberg succeeded Dr. Charlotte Farrell as executive director in November.

• 2005

  Nonprofit formation begins

  [1]Center for Performance Researchen.wikipedia.org

  After discussions with John Jasperse, Thin Man Dance, and Jonah Bokaer, the nonprofit structure that became the Center for Performance Research was assembled.

• 2005

  Public and artist financing supports construction

  [1]Center for Performance Researchen.wikipedia.org

  Organizations associated with Bokaer and Jasperse each raised $175,000, while the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs contributed $250,000 for construction and equipment.

• 2004

  Derek Denckla acquires the future CPR site

  [1]Center for Performance Researchen.wikipedia.org

  Developer Derek Denckla purchased the former plumbing-warehouse property at 361 Manhattan Avenue and began planning a combined residential and arts-space project.

A nonprofit artist-support and presentation center for experimental contemporary dance, performance, choreography, and time-based art.

• Artist services

  Artist residencies and development support

  CPR supports artists during the creation of new work, particularly in contemporary dance, performance, and time-based art. The support is oriented toward experimentation and process, giving artists a place to investigate ideas, rehearse, refine projects, and prepare work for public presentation.

• Performing arts programming

  Performance presentations

  The organization presents contemporary performance work in a dedicated Brooklyn setting. Its presentation role gives audiences access to new choreography, interdisciplinary performance, and other time-based practices while giving artists an opportunity to test work outside the studio.

• Cultural infrastructure

  Rehearsal and research space

  CPR's facility functions as practical infrastructure for artists who need space for rehearsal, research, technical experimentation, and the development of works that may not conform to conventional theater or gallery formats.

• 2005

  Create an independent nonprofit arts centerStrategy

  Background

  Thin Man Dance could not purchase and operate the proposed arts space on its own, prompting discussions about a broader nonprofit structure involving John Jasperse, Jonah Bokaer, and their affiliated organizations.

  Action taken

  A separate nonprofit, the Center for Performance Research, was formed to operate the facility and support contemporary performance artists.

  Aftermath

  The structure enabled artist and public funding to be combined with the real-estate development and allowed the former warehouse to become a dedicated performance and development venue.

  Source

• 2005

  Combine below-market arts real estate with residential developmentStrategy

  Background

  Derek Denckla sought to create a permanent arts home while using condominium sales to subsidize the cultural facility.

  Action taken

  The Greenbelt project incorporated an arts space alongside eight residential units and used a below-market sale proposal for the cultural component.

  Aftermath

  The project produced a LEED Gold-certified building and supplied CPR with a permanent physical base for artist development and presentation.

  Purchase price of 361 Manhattan Avenue. $875,000 (2004)

  Source

• 2025

  Jacklyn Biskup becomes executive director[1]Center for Performance Researchen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Jacklyn Biskup took over as executive director of the Center for Performance Research in August 2025.

• 2020

  Alexandra Rosenberg becomes executive director[1]Center for Performance Researchen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Alexandra Rosenberg succeeded Dr. Charlotte Farrell as executive director of the Center for Performance Research in November 2020.

1. 1Center for Performance Researchen.wikipedia.org