IN THE WORKS
BDF is once again teaming up with New York City-based Gibney Dance to host BDF+Gibney Connect, a three-day intensive taking place January 5-7, 2016 at Gibney Dance, 280 Broadway, NYC. This immersive experience will feature technique classes by Kendra Portier, Jennifer Nugent, Dante Brown and Amy Miller with accompaniment by Glen Fittin, and choreography with Kate Weare. Focused around inspired dancing and creative exchange, the day is designed for intermediate and advanced dancers. The early bird fee is $100 before Nov 1. For more information and to register: Gibney Dance
2016 FACULTY ANNOUNCED
We are excited to announce another great line up of master teachers that brings together some of our favorite alums with exciting newcomers. Our Young Dancers Workshop will feature modern classes by Garfield Lemonious and Karl Rogers, ballet with Martha Tornay and Shonach Mirk-Robles, jazz with Courtney D. Jones, hip hop with Shakia Johnson, improvisation with Heidi Henderson and repertory with Dante Brown.
Our Professional Training Program will include the companies of Doug Varone and Kate Weare, post-modern teachers Paul Matteson and Angie Hauser, contemporary African with Michel Kouakou, creative process and repertory with Cuban choreographer Marianela Boan, ballet and Spiraldynamik© with Shonach Mirk-Robles and Rachel List; Contact and improvisation with Chris Ailen, yoga and Pilates with Robbie Cook, plus Dance, Film and Media with Shawn Hove, Business of Dance with Sara Juli and more. Detailed information will be available on our website in mid-December.
NURTURING THE FIELD – INTERNATIONAL VISITING ARTIST PROGRAM
Since 1994 BDF has been offering creative residencies on an invitational basis to promising dance makers from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The program offers dancers and choreographers focused time to study, research and build new work, professional development resources, and an opportunity to build relationships with peers in the U.S.
Ima Iduozee
Last December Director, Laura Faure, was invited to ICEhot, the Scandinavian dance platform in Oslo, Norway, to help initiate a new pilot residency exchange between three U.S. dance organizations and the Nordic Dance Network. She discovered and invited Ima Iduozee from Helsinki who performed his extraordinary solo, “this is the title”. Ima conducted a three-week residency at BDF last summer with support from the Nordic Dance Network. Read our blog interview with Ima.
HOME IS WHERE THE ‘ART’ IS
YAP performs Home Is Where the ‘Art’ Is
Last summer our Youth Arts Program (YAP) once again brought exceptional arts learning opportunities to over 60 local kids ages 7-16. The theme around which they built their classes and final production was ‘home.’ Returning faculty Priscilla Rivas did a magnificent job filling in as director and we were thrilled to welcome back YAP founding teacher, Rose Leach. Also joining our faculty to teach hip hop was former Yapper Ryan Morrill. See what the Yappers accomplished last summer in this great mini documentary.
BDF INTERN PROFILES
Photo by Sarah Ellen Miller
Each summer BDF engages fourteen interns to assist and develop expertise in technical production, video and media, dance administration, and dance education. Last summer we had an exceptional cadre of talented interns who complimented our staff and made a critical contribution to the success of the 2015 season. Sarah Miller combined her interests in creative writing and dance as a social media intern, managing the festival’s social media accounts and writing for the blog. Check out her blog about our interns.
2015 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Sean Dorsey Dance in The Missing Generation
The 2015 season, our 33rd, brought a wealth of stunning projects to Maine. We were proud to serve as the lead commissioner for Sean Dorsey Dance’s new work, “The Missing Generation,” that takes a poignant look back on the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. A highlight of our season, Dorsey’s East Coast premiere offered audiences a rare look at an important and forgotten era in LGBTQ history. Dorsey’s residency concluded a yearlong series of activities that reached out to a wide variety of Maine people. Watch interview with Sean.
Delfos Danza in When The Disguises Are Hung Up
After many years of collaborating with our Mexican friends, the magnificent teachers and creators, Claudia Lavista and Omar Carrum, we were able to present their company, Delfos Danza Contemporanea, with generous support from Southern Exposure, a program of the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. Nine stunning dancers performed Delfos’s signature work, “When The Disguises Are Hung Up” to an enthralled audience. Company members also taught a workshop for Tree Street Youth while Claudia and Omar deepened the practice of professional students enrolled in their technique and repertory classes. For a look back at more of our 2015 activities visit our youtube channel.
LEND A HAND
BDF relies on contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals like you to supply 40% of our annual operating budget. Please consider a gift in any amount to support of our 2016 season. Make your tax-deductible contribution online at NOW.
SUPPORT BDF
The Bates Dance Festival advances the work and life of dance students, professional artists and public communities by cultivating opportunities for learning, creativity and connection in a supportive and diverse dance and performance environment.
