In its first-ever concert held during the academic year, the internationally acclaimed Bates Dance Festival collaborated with the Bates College Concerts Committee to present Beautiful Me by the renowned South African company Vuyani Dance Theatre on Oct. 16 in Bates College’s Schaeffer Theatre. The performance kicked off the troupe’s North American tour.

A global fusion of rousing live music sets the pace for this solo tour de force by the exquisite dancer and choreographer Gregory Maqoma, a rising star on South Africa’s dance and theater scene. Beautiful Me speaks honestly about the profound task of finding one’s authentic voice and redefining our notion of postmodern African choreography.

During his week in residence at Bates, Maqoma and his company members — Isaac Katlego Molelekoa; violin; Mandla Madienkosi Nhlapo, percussion; Bongani Kunene, cello; and Poorvi Bhana, sitar — offered a noonday concert, gave master dance workshops, spoke to music and anthropology classses and with members of Amandla!, and met with faculty members whose teaching focuses on Africa.

For a glimpse of his experience at Bates, watch the following short video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Bates Dance Festival presents its 26th season of public events, July 15 through Aug. 9, 2008, on the campus of Bates College. The five-week festival will feature performances, panel discussions, films and lectures by more than 30 internationally recognized dance artists from throughout the United States and abroad. The season showcases compelling and visually arresting performances that blend dance, video, text and original music to address themes of political activism, human relationships, the natural world and our changing global environment.

Highlighting the 2008 festival will be one of NYC’s hottest young dance troupes Keigwin + Company presenting the Maine premieres of two witty and entertaining new works “Elements” and “Love Songs” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19, in Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St., Bates College.

Continuing a tradition of presenting contemporary dance from around the world, “Africa/NOW” is a shared evening featuring provocative new works by South African choreographer Gregory Maqoma and Zimbabwean performer Nora Chipaumire. A globetrotting phenomenon, Maqoma performs an excerpt from his compelling solo work “Beautiful Me” that looks at the beauty of humanity. Chipaumire is known for provocative and politically relevant multimedia dances that illuminate the struggles of human identity in an increasingly borderless world. She performs an excerpt from “Chimurenga,” a post-revolution solo. The concerts take place at 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday, July 25 and 26, in Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St., Bates College.

From Seattle comes the physically virtuosic and conceptually rigorous Zoe Scofield & Juniper Shuey performing the Maine premiere of “the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.” Known for their mesmerizing intensity, technical precision and lush design, Scofield & Shuey recently received a prestigious National Dance Project award for the creation of this exceptional new work. The concerts take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1 and 2, in Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St., Bates College.

Showcasing diverse styles and perspectives “Different Voices” features an excerpt from “Not About Iraq” by Alpert-Award winning choreographer/filmmaker Victoria Marks that examines government rhetoric, “double-speak” and the outrage that occurs when words lose their meaning. Also on the program are excerpts of new works by artist/activist Ananya Chatterjea, the contemporary dance duos of Nugent + Matteson Dance and Chris Aiken & Angie Hauser, Japanese experimental movement artist Yutaka Joraku and emerging choreographers Christopher Williams and Heather Maloney. “Different Voices” takes place at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 7 and 8, in Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St., Bates College.

In addition to main stage performances, the festival offers a selection of free and low-cost events. “Global Exchange: Sharing Across Cultures,” a panel discussion with international visiting artists, takes place at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 22.  Filmmaker and scholar, Joan Frosch screens and discusses her acclaimed film “Movement (R)evolution,” a portrait of the vibrant contemporary dance scene in Africa, at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 24, in the Olin Arts Center, 75 Russell St., Bates College.

The festival presents its annual “Musician’s Concert,” featuring a global mix of music, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, 75 Russell St., Bates College. “Moving in the Moment,” a spirited evening of improvisation dance by festival faculty takes place at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, in Alumni Gym, 130 Central Ave. Rounding out the festival’s five-week season is the “Festival Finale,” featuring dancers of all ages and abilities performing modern, ethnic and jazz dance works by Gabriel Masson, Cathy Young, Gregory Maqoma, Nora Chipaumire and our Youth Arts Program, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, in Alumni Gymnasium, 130 Central Ave.

In conjunction with its performances, the festival presents “Inside Dance: Understanding Contemporary Dance,” a series of lectures and post-performance talks led by dance scholars Joan Frosch, Debra Cash, and festival director Laura Faure. Offering audiences insight into the artists and their work, a lecture will accompany “Africa/NOW” at 7:15 p.m. Friday, July 25 and Zoe Scofield and Juniper Shuey at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2. Both lectures take place in Schaeffer Theater, 305 College St.  Post-performance talks take place following most Friday evening performances.

Information on tickets, event locations and further details will be available on our website in April at: http://www.batesdancefestival.org

About the Bates Dance Festival

Founded in 1982 at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, the Bates Dance Festival brings together an international community of contemporary dance choreographers, performers, educators and students in cooperative community to study, perform and create new work. The festival serves as an annual destination for artists, students and audiences to engage in a full range of dance activities and performances that foster a creative exchange of ideas, encourage exploration of new ground and provide the opportunity to experience a wide spectrum of dance/movement disciplines.

The annual Different Voices concert features an inspiring night of dance from around the globe as visiting artists from the United States, Mexico, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo bring new works to the Bates Dance Festival stage. The Different Voices concert will take place at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, in Schaeffer Theatre. Tickets are $18/$12 (students and seniors) and may be purchased by calling 207-786-6161 after July 9. (This performance is appropriate for an audience of all ages.)

Soweto-born dancer-choreographer Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe returns to the festival with work that fuses his ancestral traditions with an inspired blend of Asian and European dance elements. His work combines themes of cultural alienation and identity with an intense physicality and charisma that have won accolades and awards worldwide. Mantsoe has created works for Moving Into Dance, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Inbal Dance Company of Israel and Skanes Danse Teatre in Sweden. He recently completed a highly acclaimed U.S. tour.

Representing the vanguard of Japanese contemporary dance, internationally renowned choreographer Kota Yamazaki will showcase an excerpt from his latest work. A contemporary performer whose training includes butoh, classical ballet and modern dance, Yamazaki finds his originality by focusing on the art of his own body and not in any tradition or technique.

Award-winning choreographers Faustin Linyekula and Gregory Maqoma share new works infused with a contemporary African sensibility. Linyekula directs the Studios Kabako, a center dedicated to dance and visual theater training, research and creation based in the Congo’s Kinshasa. He has collaborated with artists across Europe in the development of multidisciplinary works. Maqoma has received many dance and choreography awards, including FNB Vita Choreographer of the Year in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He has created works for Moving Into Dance, The Dance Factory, Jazzart Dance Company and Adzido Pan African Dance Ensemble in London.

Exceptional Javanese dancer Mugiyono Kasido was born to a dalang (wayang puppet master) family. He studied traditional dance at the Mangkunegaran Palace and ritual movement with Suprapto Suryodarmo. He has worked with contemporary master Sardono W. Kusumo for many years. Kasido creates contemporary work based on Javanese traditional arts.

Currently associated with Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, emerging choreographer Shani Collins has performed with Marlies Yearby’s Movin’ Spirits Dance Theater, Nathan Trice/Rituals and Urban Bush Women. Her work tells powerful stories with authenticity and truth.

In addition to main stage performances, the festival offers a selection of free and low-cost events. Complete information is available at the website: http://www.bates.edu/dancefest