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Young Dancers Intensive: Extensions

General Information

General Information

Young Dancers Intensive: Extensions

July 13-19, 2025

This one-week experience is designed for a cohort of up to twenty advanced students ages 16 to 18 to continue their training alongside BDF’s Professional Training Program. This is a unique opportunity for students with demonstrated technical proficiency and commitment to artistry to engage in professional training, receive additional mentorship, and develop connections with a diverse group of artists. Students will be placed into morning classes alongside PTP students, and will participate in special afternoon workshops and master classes facilitated by BDF faculty and artists-in-residence.

To participate in YDI: Extensions, a dancer must:

  • be 16-18 years old by June 1, 2025
  • participate in the 2025 Young Dancers Intensive
  • have 4+ years of continuous training in dance
  • demonstrate advanced technical proficiency in two or more forms in the application video
  • affirm that the teacher recommendation includes an articulation of maturity and ability to share space with professional dancers.
  • submit a one-paragraph statement of intent within the application. 

 Faculty

Faculty for the 2025 Young Dancer Intensive: Extensions program will be announced soon!

 The Location

The Festival is held on the beautifully landscaped campus of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, a 45-minute drive from Portland and west of the extraordinary Maine coast. While most festival events occur on campus, there is time to explore the surrounding community of Lewiston-Auburn, two vibrant sister cities that straddle The Androscoggin River.

 Arrival & Orientation

Students should plan to arrive Saturday, June 28, between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.  All students must depart on Saturday, July 19 by 11 a.m. 

 Transportation

The Portland International Jetport (PWM) is a 45-minute drive from the Bates campus. BDF will offer a shuttle for YDI students on Saturday June 29th and Saturday July 12th. Information to sign up can be found in the application.

We also recommend the following travel itineraries:

  • Fly to PWM, then take a cab or rideshare to Bates College.
  • Fly into Boston Logan airport (BOS), and then take a Concord Coach Lines bus to Portland. From there, a commuter bus that leaves from the Portland Transportation Center every hour and drops off at the Bates College Campus.
  • Concord Coach and Amtrak serve Portland from NYC, Boston, and other areas of the Northeast and arrive at the Transportation Center, where students can take a cab or the commuter bus to Bates.

 Room & Meals

Students are housed in College dormitories with others of similar age. Single and double rooms are available, but all accommodations have shared bathrooms. Rooms and studios are not air-conditioned. Students living on campus must adopt the meal plan. Delicious meals are served in the College’s Dining Commons with several choices of entrees, including vegetarian and vegan options.

 Tuition, Room, and Board

Two weeks of the Young Dancers Intensive, followed by one week of YDI: Extensions, including weekend stay-over between programs:

  • Single room $3850
  • Double room $3695

 Financial Assistance

A limited number of scholarships and fellowships are available to qualifying students.  See Scholarship page for details.