THE YARD This renowned festival is a highlight of the Martha’s Vineyard arts scene every summer. This year’s highlights include public performances by Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Malpaso Dance Company, and Ragamala Dance Company. May 22-Sept. 10. Free-$75. Chilmark and Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard. 508-645-9677, www.dancetheyard.org
ACROSS THE AGES DANCE PROJECT Celebrating the richness of intergenerational dance, “Connections” features 40 dancers ranging in age from 6 to 81. The concert includes new dances by Yo-El Cassell, William (Bill) Evans, Adrienne Hawkins, Meghan McLyman, Lynn Modell, Jenny Oliver, and Erica Schwartz. Curated by Eliza Mallouk. June 9-11. $20-$25. Green Street Studios, Cambridge. 781-307-2563, www.brownpapertickets.com
Advertisement
DANCE FOR WORLD COMMUNITY This free all-day festival presented by José Mateo Ballet Theatre aims to showcase the power of dance to build community. In addition to performances by more than 90 dance groups representing styles from ballet to hip-hop, the indoor-outdoor event includes introductory dance classes, family activities, opportunities to connect with social advocacy nonprofits, and, of course, food. June 10, noon-8 p.m. Free. Sanctuary Theatre area, Cambridge. 617-354-7467, www.danceforworldcommunity.org
JACOB’S PILLOW DANCE FESTIVAL For dance lovers, no summer is complete without at least one visit to this internationally acclaimed festival in the Berkshires. The 85th season’s expected highlights include the US debut of Israeli dance company Roy Assaf Dance, rare US appearances by Canada’s Compagnie Marie Chouinard and Cuba’s Compañía Irene Rodríguez, a collaborative Pillow-exclusive led by Michelle Dorrance, Camille A. Brown & Dancers in Brown’s evening-length “Black Girl: Linguistic Play,” and a new outdoor, site-specific work by Pilobolus. June 21-Aug. 27. Free-$100. Jacob’s Pillow, Becket. 413-243-0745, www.jacobspillow.org
THE FESTIVAL OF US, YOU, WE, & THEM They will be literally dancing in the streets for this Dance Complex festival, with flash mobs and pop-up performances to celebrate the organization’s 25th-anniversary year. The three-day event combines an open house with teacher-student concerts, an arts gallery, and festive spontaneous creations that organizers hope will highlight the inclusive power of dance and the arts. Many events are free. June 23-25. Dance Complex, Cambridge. 617-547-9363, www.dancecomplex.org
Advertisement
PAUL TAYLOR 2 DANCE COMPANY AT WINDHOVER This mini-festival features films, talks, classes, rehearsals, and performances spread over a busy six days. A don’t-miss highlight is the company’s Saturday night performance of Paul Taylor masterworks, which will include “Tracer,” a lost work from 1962 that was reconstructed last year, as well as the popular “Company B,” “The Uncommitted,” and “Junction,” with live music. June 27-July 2. Suggested donation $20. Windhover Center for the Performing Arts, Rockport. 978-546-3611, www.windhover.org
BATES DANCE FESTIVAL Celebrating 35 years this season, Bates College’s terrific little festival focuses not just on training for dancers but public exhibits and performances, and this year’s impressive lineup includes engagements by David Dorfman Dance, zoe | juniper, and Danny Buraczeski, as well as Stephan Koplowitz’s site-specific “Mill Town,” with a cast of 50 performers. In addition, an anniversary gala features Larry Keigwin, Bebe Miller, Doug Varone, and more. July 1-Aug. 5. Lewiston, Maine. 207-786-6381, www.batesdancefestival.org
GREAT FRIENDS DANCE FESTIVAL Island Moving Company’s festival offers five nights of performances. Each is a shared bill by different guest companies, including Breathing Art Company from Italy, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, Boston’s Kat Nasti Dance, and two troupes from New York, Matthew Westerby Company and Trainor Dance. July 19-23. $23-$27. Great Friends Meeting House, Newport, R.I. 401-847-4470, www.islandmovingco.org
Advertisement
ON TAP — BEANTOWN TAPFEST FACULTY SHOWCASE As if August in Boston isn’t hot enough, Julia Boynton’s annual tap festival (July 31-Aug. 6) brings the heat with two shows featuring a star-studded cast of fleet hoofers, including hometown boys Sean Fielder, Ryan Casey, and Ian Berg. An expected highlight is the performance of Caleb Teicher & Company’s charming “Variations.” Aug. 4, 6 and 8:30 p.m., Boston University Dance Theater. 617-616-5124, www.beantowntapfest.com
CHATHAM DANCE FESTIVAL If the heat gets too oppressive, PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century gives you a great reason to head to this festival, held in a concert tent on 100 pastoral acres in the Berkshires. Highlights include perennial favorite Parsons Dance, Caleb Teicher & Company, Monica Bill Barnes & Company, Ephrat Asherie Dance, and Christopher K. Morgan. Aug. 4-Sept. 3. $18-$40. PS21, Chatham, N.Y. 518-392-6121, www.ps21chatham.org
Karen Campbell can be reached at karencampbell4@rcn.com.