Bates College Modern Dance Company
Is a non-competitive performing company in which students have the opportunity to create and perform their own work as well as experience working with guest choreographers. A typical year in the Bates Dance Modern Dance Company involves four to five concerts, as well as choreographic residencies with a number of guest artists. These artists each come for an intensive residency to choreograph a piece for the company. These pieces, along with student made works, are then performed in concerts throughout the year. The company membership consists of those students who are the core creators and performers in the concerts. There is no audition necessary to be in the Bates Dance Modern Dance Company.
Creation of Works
Student Choreography
There are a number of opportunities for students to create
dance works during the year. Generally it begins with the
Dance Composition class in which students learn compositional
tools and make a complete dance piece by the end of the
semester. However, after completing the course, there is
no limit to the choreographic opportunities available in
the Bates Dance Program. There are also plenty of opportunities
for other dancers to perform in the works of these student
choreographers.
Guest Choreography
Four to ten guest choreographers with national and international reputations come to work with the Bates Dance Program each year. These choreographers teach a repertory piece which is then performed in a variety of concerts during the year. The company is proud to have worked with artists. Generally these works are created during a two week residency during which the students in the piece experience a unique creative process and othere students have the opportunity to take classes with the guest artists during their stay.
Faculty Choreography
The faculty of the Bates Dance Program also contribute
choreographic works to be performed by the students
in the various concerts
throughout the year.
Service Learning
The Bates Dance Program assists students in creating ties with the community outside of the college from volunteering in the schools or community centers to working with the Bates Dance Festival Youth Arts Program.