One of America’s most gifted dancemakers, Doug Varone returns to the Bates Dance Festival for his sixth creative residency since 1992. Varone’s exceptional company performs stunning new works including “Lux,” “Castles” and excerpts from a work in progress, “Chapters from a Broken Novel.”

Performances take place at 8 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, July 15 and 17, in Bates College’s Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St. For information about tickets, and for additional performance details, visit the festival website.

A public discussion with the artists follows the Thursday concert, and an “Inside Dance” talk by dance writer Debra Cash precedes the Saturday show at 7:30 in Schaeffer.

A Washington Post reviewer wrote that “Lux,” set to music by Philip Glass, “is all about freedom. It is what dancing really feels like…loose and sweeping in a spirit of exultation. Varone puts the beating heart at the center of his work.”

“Castles” is set to Sergei Prokofiev’s Waltz Suite, Op. 110. The whirling score propels nine dancers across the stage with striking energy.

To complete the program, Varone shows a sneak preview of his latest full-length work, “Chapters From A Broken Novel.” Set to an original score by award-winning composer David Van Tieghem, “Chapters” is composed of seemingly independent short segments that reveal intimate portraits reflecting the human experience. A co-production with Portland Ovations, the company will feature the piece in Ovations’ 2010-11 season.

Founded in 1986, Varone’s company commands attention for its expansive vision, versatility and technical prowess. On the concert stage, in opera, theater and on the screen, Varone’s dances make essential connections and mine the complexity of the human spirit.

From the smallest gesture to full-throttle bursts of movement, Varone’s work can literally take your breath away. The New York Observer wrote, “Varone dancers are kinetically thrilling. They go all the way, both when they’re in vivid, rushing motion and when they’re in deep stillness.”

At home in New York City, Doug Varone and Dancers is the resident company at the Harkness Dance Center at the 92nd Street Y. On tour, the company has performed in more than 100 cities in 45 states across the U.S. and around the world. Stages include the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, San Francisco Performances, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, Moscow’s Stanislavsky Theater, the Venice Biennale and the Jacob’s Pillow and American dance festivals.

In opera and theater, the company regularly collaborates on the many Varone-directed or choreographed productions that have been produced around the country during the last decade.

Doug Varone and Dancers are among the most sought-after ambassadors and educators in the field. Annual summer intensive workshops at leading universities attract students and professionals from around the country. The company’s multidisciplinary residency programs capture their concepts, imagery and techniques for people of all ages and backgrounds, reaching out in ways that directly relate to people’s lives and interests.

Varone, his dancers and designers have been honored with 11 New York Dance and Performance Awards, better known as Bessies.

Wednesday, July 21, Alumni Gym, 8 p.m.
Lecture/Demonstration/Workshop with Rennie Harris PureMovement
Rennie Harris leads a journey through the history and culture of hip hop, demonstrating the spectrum of dance styles and inviting participants to get down.

Friday, July 23, Schaeffer Theatre, 8 p.m., $14/$8*
Performance: DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS Internationally acclaimed choreographer Doug Varone and his eight-member company perform “Bel Canto,” a comic jaunt set to operatic music of Bellini; excerpts from the “Nyman Trilogy,” set to the dramatic music of British composer Michael Nyman; and other new works. Followed by a post-performance discussion with the artists.

Saturday, July 24, Schaeffer Theatre, 7:15 p.m.
Pre-performance Lecture with Suzanne Carbonneau.
Performance: DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS, Schaeffer Theatre, 8 p.m., $14/$8*
(See Friday listing)

Saturday, July 31, Schaeffer Theatre, 8 p.m., $14/$8*
Performance: SARA PEARSON/PATRIK WIDRIG & CO. This versatile and dynamic six member company previews÷”If Wishes Were Horses Than Beggars Would Ride,” a community dance project exploring personal stories of change using movement, text and video, as well as Widrig’s magical duet “Muezzin’” with composer/vocalist Philip Hamilton. Followed by a post-performance discussion with the artists.

Sunday, Aug. 1, Schaeffer Theatre, 7:15 p.m.
Pre-performance Lecture with Suzanne Carbonneau.
Performance: SARA PEARSON/PATRIK WIDRIG & CO., Schaeffer Theatre, 8 p.m., $14/$8* (see Saturday listing)

Thursday, Aug. 5, Olin Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Performance: THE COMPOSER’S CONCERT
An annual favorite at the festival, this eclectic concert features
multi-instrumentalists Tigger Benford, Peter Jones, Jesse Manno and Mike Vargas, pianist Clark Stiefel and percussionists Gilles Obermayer and Shamou in a program of original and improvised music.

Friday, Aug. 6, Schaeffer Theatre, 8 p.m. $14/$8*
Performance: RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT
This group of hip hop masters returns to Maine to preview their new work “Rome & Jewels.“ Puremovement takes on the classics with this full-evening, hip hop ballet that mixes the tragic love stories of “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story” with contemporary hip hop dance, music, the voice of the DJ and the spoken work of the MC/rapper. Followed by a post-performance discussion with the artists.

Saturday, Aug. 7, Schaeffer Theatre, 7:15 p.m.
Pre-performance Lecture with Suzanne Carbonneau.
Performance: RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT , Schaeffer Theatre, 8 p.m. $14/$8*(see Friday listing)

Monday Aug. 9, Alumni Gym, 8 p.m
Performance: MOVING IN THE MOMENT
An evening of improvisational dance and music with contact improviser Nancy Stark Smith and members of the Festival dance and music faculty. An annual crowd pleaser full of delicious surprises, hilarious vignettes and moving moments.

Thursday, Aug. 12, Schaeffer Theatre, 8 p.m., $14/$8*
Performance: NEW WORKS: SEÀN CURRAN & VICTORIA MARKS
Sharing the stage are the devilish postmodern choreographer Seàn Curran and members of his company, as well as choreographer and filmmaker Victoria Marks. The concert features engaging new dances by Curran and award-winning films and solos by Marks.

Friday, Aug. 13, Schaeffer Theatre, 8 p.m., $12/$8*
Performance: DIFFERENT VOICES
New works by artists from around the world. Featuring Kaczo Takemoto (Japan), Jecko Siompo (Indonesia), Teresa Prima (Portugal) and Simon Ellis (Australia), along with emerging choreographers Karinne Keithley and Paule Turner ‹ all in one dynamic program.

Saturday, Aug. 14, Schaeffer Theatre, 1-5 p.m.
Informal Performance: Young Choreographers/New Works
An adjudicated, informal showing of more than 24 new works by talented Festival participants from around the world. Faculty members will provide insightful, critical feedback throughout the afternoon.

Performance: STUDENT FINALE, Alumni Gym, 8 p.m., $5/$2*
A celebration of diverse dance traditions. Come for an evening of
modern, jazz and tap works created by Doug Varone, Sean Curran, Kathleen Hermesdorf, Cornelius Carter and margaret Morrison and performed by Festival students. Highlighting the program will be a performance by local youth participating in the Festival’s Youth Arts dance and music program under the direction of Jane Weiner.

*Admission for full-time students and senior citizens.
All events take place at Bates College.
All events are free unless otherwise noted.
Advance reservations: 207/786-6161, beginning July 5, 12-5 p.m.

Contact: Laura Faure, director 207-786-6381