Performance Opportunities

Dance Concerts & Performances

New Student Orientation
This dance concert is part of the welcome activities for the new students. Included are pieces from the previous semester and a brand new work by a guest choreographer learned the week before the semester begins.

Parents & Families Weekend
Performed in the Schaeffer Theater, a full concert is produced for visiting parents and families of Bates Students. It highlights the breadth of the program and the spirit of the Bates College Dance Company.

Winter Concert of Professional Work
A main stage performance by the students in the Bates College Modern Dance Company, celebrating the completion of the Fall Semester's projects by faculty and guest artists.

Spring Concert
The main focus of this concert is the presentation of final choreographic projects by the Winter Semester's Dance Composition classes, which are performed by students in the Dance Program. However, additional works by guest choreographers and independent studies in choreography are also presented.

Short Term
There are normally three short terms available in Dance with performing opportunities in all.

Bates Dance Festival is available for short term credit. Festival courses are taught by leading scholars, artists, and practitioners in their field. Students have many opportunities to perform, from class showings to professional works.

Dance as a Collaborative Art begins with an intensive on-campus development period to create a performance piece which is presented to more than a dozen nearby elementary schools during the course of the term.

Ballroom Dance explores many different ballroom dance styles culminating with a public performance in Schaeffer Theatre.

Other Activities

American College Dance Festival
Every year a group of dancers attends the American College Dance Festival, where they perform their works, take master classes and network with other college dance students and professionals.

Bates Dance Festival
Located on campus, the Bates Dance Festival combines performance events featuring internationally acclaimed contemporary dance artists with an intensive three-week program including professional dance/movement training, creative process development classes, performances, lectures, and interactions with established and emerging dance artists who are in residence throughout the Festival. This Festival is available to a limited number of students each year for short term credit and is available at a discount for students who participate outside of the academic credit.