American Dance Festival
Photo credits see Practical information below
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| Country and Region | United States — North Carolina |
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| Type of Festival | Dance |
| Location of Festival | Durham, North Carolina USA |
| Festival Contact Information | American Dance Festival |
| Festival Description | Since its founding in 1934 American Dance Festival has encouraged and supported the creation of modern dance by both established and emerging choreographers. ADF enhances public understanding and appreciation of the art form and the cultural and historical significance of dance by building national and international audiences. ADF has presented works by Martha Graham, José Limón, Merce Cunningham, Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, and many others. |
| Festival Dates | June 13 - Jully 27, 2013 |
| Festival Links | http://www.americandancefestival.org |
Festival Story:
The American Dance Festival began its peripatetic existence traveling between some of the most progressive and prestigious Women’s Colleges in the United States. It was born as The Bennington School of Dance in 1934 amidst the Green Mountains at Bennington College in Vermont to proud parents Martha Graham, Martha Hill and Charles Weidman among other now extraordinarily famous dancer/choreographers. The School of Dance stretched its legs in 1939 and traveled out west for a summer to Mills College in Oakland, California. In 1947, Martha Hill decided to re-establish the school at Connecticut College in New London, CT where it stayed and prospered until 1978 when it traveled to its current home, the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
ADF has always had two focusses: presenting new works by the famous and not so famous, and educating a new generation of dancers. It has become an integral part of the fiber of the modern dance world, and the greater cloth of American culture. Mrs. Betty Ford, who attended the ADF School, is an honorary chairperson, as well as each of her successors.
In the dance community, being able to perform, to train, to intern at ADF is as much of an honour as it was when Jose Limon premiered his work at Bennington College in 1946.
Festival Events:
Performance feature 2012:
- Ragamala Dance Company (USA)
Ragamala Dance makes its inaugural appearance at the American Dance Festival this summer with its work “Sacred Earth”. The troupe will perform the piece from July 10-12. “Sacred Earth” premiered Cowles Center in Minneapolis. For more information visit http://www.ragamala.net/
Other Sources:
Want more? Click on a color — travel and explore. 
Podcast interviews:
- If you like this festival — listen to…
- Mark Hines, executive producer of SoJam A Cappella Festival
http://kadmusarts.com/podcasts/?p=1995 - Liss Fain, contemporary dancer
http://kadmusarts.com/podcasts/?p=1092 - Jane Hirshberg, managing director and CEO of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange
http://kadmusarts.com/podcasts/?p=922 - Ronald K. Brown, choreographer
http://kadmusarts.com/blog/?p=433
- Mark Hines, executive producer of SoJam A Cappella Festival
Practical Info:
Photo slideshow credits:
- In order of appearance
- Ragamala Dance, Photo by Grant Halverson
- Ragamala Dance, Photo by Grant Halverson
- Ragamala Dance, Photo by Dilip Barman
Tickets:
- By Phone (credit card orders only)
(01) 919-684-6402, or (01) 919-684-4444 - By Fax (credit card orders only)
(01) 919-684-5459 - By Mail (check or credit card orders only)
American Dance Festival
Box 90772
Durham, NC 27708-0772 USA - Online (single ticket orders only)
Subscription Order Form can be found on festival website
http://www.tickets.duke.edu
Box Office Information:
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