Bates Dance Festival

Bates Dance Festival. The Bates Dance Festival is a premier summer dance event held annually on the campus of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Founded in 1983, it has grown into a nationally recognized institution that presents a diverse array of contemporary performance, intensive professional training, and community engagement programs. The festival attracts hundreds of dancers, choreographers, educators, and audiences each year, serving as a vital hub for the development and dissemination of innovative dance.

History

The festival was established in 1983 by choreographer Marlies Yearby, then a faculty member in the Bates College theater department, with initial support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Its early years focused on creating a concentrated environment for professional dancers to train and create new work, quickly gaining a reputation within the American dance community. Under the subsequent long-term artistic direction of Laura Faure from 1986 to 2012, the festival expanded its scope, establishing its signature blend of world-class performances, professional workshops, and community classes. This period saw the festival forge relationships with pivotal institutions like the New England Foundation for the Arts and its National Dance Project. In 2012, leadership transitioned to co-directors Shoni Currier and Donald T. L. Byrd, who continued to champion artistic innovation and educational access until Currier assumed sole directorship.

Programming

The festival's programming is multifaceted, centered around a public performance series featuring established and emerging choreographers from across the United States and internationally. This series presents evening-length concerts, informal showings, and site-specific works in various campus venues. A core component is the Professional Training Program, offering rigorous multi-week workshops in techniques ranging from ballet and modern dance to West African dance and contact improvisation, taught by a distinguished international faculty. The festival also runs a Young Dancers Workshop for pre-professional teenagers and the Community Dance Program, which offers low-cost classes to the public. Additional programming includes artist talks, film screenings, and the "Dinner & Discussion" series, fostering dialogue between artists, students, and attendees.

Educational Impact

The festival's educational impact is profound, functioning as an intensive summer conservatory that supplements the training of countless dancers and dance educators. Its Professional Training Program is often a career catalyst, connecting participants with a network of leading artists and peers. The festival maintains a strong partnership with the Bates College academic department, offering college credit for courses and providing employment opportunities for students. Furthermore, its commitment to accessibility through community classes and outreach initiatives, often supported by grants from organizations like the Maine Arts Commission, has significantly expanded dance literacy and participation throughout the state of Maine. The pedagogical philosophy emphasizes technical rigor, creative exploration, and somatic practices, influencing teaching methodologies nationwide.

Notable Artists and Collaborations

The festival has hosted a remarkable roster of influential artists and companies integral to the evolution of postmodern dance and contemporary performance. Notable performers and choreographers have included Bill T. Jones, Trisha Brown, Urban Bush Women, David Dorfman, Rennie Harris, Eiko & Koma, and Kyle Abraham. It has also been a platform for seminal companies such as the Pilobolus and the Stephen Petronio Company. The festival frequently commissions new works and has fostered creative collaborations, such as those with composer John Zorn and visual artist Ann Hamilton. These engagements have often been supported by presenting partnerships with entities like the L/A Arts organization and funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Venues and Facilities

The festival primarily utilizes performance and instructional spaces on the Bates College campus, anchored by the Schaeffer Theatre, a proscenium-stage theater that hosts mainstage concerts. The Gray Athletic Building houses large studios for daily technique classes and rehearsals. Additional sites include the Gannett Theater for more intimate performances and the Merrill Gymnasium for large workshops. The festival also stages outdoor and site-specific performances in locations like the Lewiston City Hall atrium and the college's Quadrangle. Campus facilities such as Chase Hall and residential dormitories accommodate the live-in community of artists, students, and staff that forms each summer.

Category:Dance festivals in the United States Category:Bates College Category:Recurring events established in 1983 Category:Summer events in Maine