Phone: (207) 786-6381
Fax: (207) 786-8282

URL: abacus.bates.edu/dancefest
Email: lfaure@bates.edu

Bates Dance Festival
163 Wood Street
Lewiston, ME 04240-6016

The Bates Dance Festival at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine is the leading presenter of contemporary dance in northern New England during the summer. Founded in 1982, the Festival is an intensive five-week series which brings together a community of over 60 dance artists with 345 students from around the globe and 4,000 audience members. Since its founding, the Festival has evolved into a nationally recognized program known for its curatorial vision, innovative community projects, uniquely supportive and noncompetitive environment, and outstanding roster of contemporary artists.

The Festival brings an artistically and ethnically diverse group of the best contemporary dance artists to Maine to teach, perform, and create new work. Artists are selected by Festival Director, Laura Faure, through consultation with a national network of colleagues. The Festival presents contemporary, world and traditional dance, music and performance and provides established and emerging artists with a creative, supportive environment in which to work. The planning process is grounded in a commitment to sustain and renew long term relationships while kindling new ones with dynamic emerging artists. Fostering collaboration among Festival artists is a central goal. Planning begins up to two years in advance of the season and contracts are written in the fall for the following summer season.