YAP 30th Birthday Party

L/A Arts

Free and open to the public

Sat, Aug 2, 5-7pm

Join us in celebrating 30 years of YAP at the Bates Dance Festival! We’ll sing, dance, play games, have cake and ice cream, and celebrate all that the Youth Arts Program has brought to this community. Enjoy performances from YAP alumni and help us honor Jane Weiner, YAP Founder. 

This event is free to all – YAP friends, family, alumni, and fans! Please RSVP in advance. 

In 1995, three teachers at the Bates Dance Festival envisioned expanding the Festival’s reach to local children in Lewiston/Auburn and surrounding communities. This dream led to the establishment of the Youth Arts Program (YAP), designed to offer an incredible arts experience to young participants. 

Over the past three decades, YAP has successfully integrated the arts into the lives of children, instilling essential skills and values such as imagination, persistence, and empathy. Through collaborative activities—like dance, music, playwriting, and art projects—students immerse themselves in a creative environment that culminates in performances for appreciative audiences. The pride these children feel is evident, as their beaming smiles and the thunderous applause from family and community members highlight their achievements. YAP’s impact is further underscored by testimonies from alumni, who credit the program with shaping their lives and fostering confidence, as well as by the fact that YAP now serves second-generation students, with parents entrusting their children to the same enriching experiences they once enjoyed.