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A photo of a person teaching a dance class in a gymnasium. They smile while looking away from the camera and at the students behind them.
Updated 3/4/2024

Bates Dance Festival

  • Maine

    ME

Institution/Business Type: Cultural Series Organization

The Bates Dance Festival, a summer program of Bates College in Lewiston, ME, is an internationally recognized center for contemporary dance. Founded in 1982, the Festival offers intensive dance training to students of all ages, commissioning and residency support for new works, a 6-week concert series and engagement activities that brings together an annual community of over 80 dance artists with 340 students from around the globe and 5,000 audience members from across the state and region.

Find Me

Shoshona Currier
Job Title: Producer/Director
Phone: (207)-786-6381
Fax: (207)-786-8332
Address:
305 College St.
Pettigrew Hall
Lewiston, ME 04240-6016
Website

Social Media:

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Cultural Series Organization

Legal Status:

Nonprofit - Embedded in non-cultural private organization

Parent Organization:

Bates College

Year Founded:

1982

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Cultural Series Organization

Legal Status:

Nonprofit - Embedded in non-cultural private organization

Parent Organization:

Bates College

Year Founded:

1982

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Dance - General

Additional Disciplines:

  • Music - Solo / Recital

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Arts Criticism / Journalism
  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Audio or Video Recording
  • Consulting - Curatorial Services
  • Creation of a Work of Art (Including Commissions)
  • Curriculum Development
  • Film Showings
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Professional Development / Training
  • Public Art Projects (In Free, Public Spaces)
  • Residency - Community
  • Residency - Production / Development
  • Residency - Other
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
Seasons Active: summer
Events Per Year: 15

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Elders
  • Families
  • Immigrant Populations
  • People with Disabilities
  • School Groups
  • Teens
  • Youth-At-Risk

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City
  • County
  • Multi-County Region
  • State
  • National
  • International

Media Gallery

A group of dancers perform on a stage as they all lift one leg to the side and stretch their arms outwards.
A group of people wearing all black perform a dance in a brightly lit gymnasium space.
A dancer performs a leaping action while a group of dancers pose on the floor reaching towards her.
A large group of people dance, smile, and celebrate together on a colorfully lit stage.
A group of young students perform a dance together on a stage.
A group of people dance together outside.
A group of people participate in a Hip Hop class together.
Elliot Emadian
Elliot Emadian

I Have Worked With

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • National Performance Network
  • The Africa Contemporary Arts Consortium
  • Dance /USA

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • National Performance Network
  • The Africa Contemporary Arts Consortium
  • Dance /USA

Awards

Awards:

  • Maine Legislative Sentiment 2012

Special Designations

Special Designations:

  • NEFA Grant Recipient
  • New England Presenters (NEP) Member

Venues for Rent/Use

Schaeffer Theatre
Venue Address: 365 College St. Lewiston, ME 04240
Venue Phone: 207-786-6381
Venue Website
Venue Type: Theater
Venue Capacity: 300
Venue Accessibility: Facility is physically accessible (such as parking, entrances, accessible restrooms, seating, backstage).
Stage Details: Proscenium Theater, Thrust Stage
Venue Features: Dressing Room(s), Fly Space, Green Room, Loading Dock, Movie Screen / Projection Capabilities, Orchestra Pit, Sound System
Trained Crew Available: Yes
Union Crew Available: No
Additional Comments: This venue is not avaialbe for outside rentals during the summer season.