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.

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