About our work
We are serious about high quality community arts programming and helping young artists thrive.
A Dynamic Team
In 2015, Armando and Lisa began to build an arts community in Basel where dancers of all levels and all body types could train in a supportive and pro professional environment. This idea has since expanded and in 2017, the couple founded the “Braswell Arts Center” – a space for innovation and collaboration in all art forms located in Basel, Switzerland. In 2019, the pair continued their mission with the founding of the “Braswell Arts Association” a non-profit arts organization dedicated to supporting pre-professional dancers as well as emerging and established artists. Through arts education and exchange, Armando and Lisa hope to encourage collaboration and the creation of new works of art and to promote networking and entrepreneurship within the local and international arts community.
Armando Braswell
Armando Braswell is a professional dancer and teacher from New York City. After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from The Juilliard School in 2006, Armando danced with Ballett Theater Munich, Gauthier Dance Stuttgart and was a soloist with Ballett Theater Basel for 7 years. Aside from his dancing career, Armando has established himself as a guest teacher in high demand, teaching amateurs and professionals worldwide including at the Prix De Lausanne and the Juilliard School. Armando has also choreographed for many dance and opera stages as well as television.
In addition to his artistic activities, Armando is also active in the journalistic and social media fields. His popular arts blog, “Interview En L’air”, has become widely known in the international dance scene and earned him a place at “Dance For You Magazine” as a permanent correspondent and his media company, “Creative Promotional Media’’ has earned him opportunities to work with clients such as Fondation Beyeler, Basellandschaftliche Kantonal Bank and Theater Basel in Switzerland.
Lisa Braswell
Lisa Braswell is a former dancer from New York City. After graduating from LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and the Performing Arts, Lisa furthered her dance education at SUNY Purchase University and Hunter College in New York. She carried her love of dance to her position as Office Manager of one of the most successful instructional dance video companies in the United States before relocating to Munich, Germany in 2006. Lisa has administrative experience on an international scale, working for companies in New York, Germany and Switzerland and in 2015, she successfully completed the Business Course for Female Founders at the Crescenda Founding Center located in Basel, Switzerland.
Providing access to art
Giving children the creative experience that motivates them to focus on their commitment and personal performance through arts training.
Helping those in need
Families with low incomes can apply for free classes, camps and courses for their children.
Accepting you as you are
Giving children the creative experience that motivates them to focus on their commitment and personal performance through arts training.
Mentoring Pre-professional dancers
Helping young professionals become dancers through a tailored program and coaching sessions. The program also gives them guidelines on accessing today’s resources in a professional world.
Offering an open & creative hub to the Basel community
- Artists can apply for a creative residency: music, visual arts, dance, or trans-disciplinary, all creative ideas are welcome
- Free of charge, accessible artistic events and performances for the community
- Through our programs, we enable an open platform of exchange and networking between artists and amateur or professional resources
- Offering development and performance opportunities for emerging or established artists.
We are a growing charity with a vision of a bubbling and creative arts community, open to all shapes, sizes, and incomes!
The last 5 years of working closely with the Basel community have given us a solid experience and clear focus on what it needs from us going forward. Our ambitions for developing Braswell Arts stems from these last years’ success: dance classes, arts camps, performances, concerts, exhibitions and much more! -- Armando Braswell
After this terrible period of isolation and confinement due to COVID, our goal is to use our resources and experience to sustain education and creativity through all art forms, especially dance, and directly help children and adults through arts programming and community support.-- Lisa Braswell
