The Center for Dance Development (CDD) is a collaborative project of the Bates Dance Festival and the New Dance Studio in Portland, ME. Begun in 1998, CDD extends our commitment to provide essential creative time for emerging choreographers from the New England region and offer the southern Maine community exposure to fresh ideas and expertise. Participating artists, who are selected by invitation, receive a two-week creative residency that includes uninterrupted studio time, housing, per diem, and a small honorarium. In turn the artists offer three master classes for local dancers. Each residency culminates with an informal public showing of new work.

The project is co-directed by BDF producing director, Laura Faure, and New Dance Studio founder, Lisa Hicks. To date the program has provided residencies for emerging choreographers Karinne Keithley, Sara Sweet Rabidoux, Carol Somers, Larry Keigwin, Kris Storey, Melissa Chris/Hollins Dance Project, Chris Elam, Shani Collins, Paul Matteson & Jennifer Nugent and Heather Maloney.

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