WHAT IS AUSTIN DANCE FESTIVAL?
Founded in 2015 by Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company and held annually in Austin, TX, Austin Dance Festival presents dance showcases, offers master classes with guest artists, screens dance films, and does so much more. It’s a blast! Read on for details...
Professional Showcases highlight local, regional, and national companies and artists working in the broad field of modern dance, post-modern dance, and improvisational dance. Expect diverse, entertaining, moving performances. You’re welcome.
Youth Showcases are non-competitive, professionally-produced concerts that highlight modern dance works by local, regional, and national youth dance companies. See the future right here.
Dance on Film screenings feature cinematic films that combine choreography and the practice of filmmaking. Look for inventive movie-making techniques and a variety of dance forms in these films from around the world. Popcorn included.
Artist Interviews and Directors’ Chats promote dialogue by opening doors to the creative process, personal motivations, and sometimes even to the unknown. Listen up!
Master Classes with Guest Artists for recreational, student, and professional dancers can be found all over town. Take one.
Spring Dance Workshops for Youth give dancers an opportunity to take class from members of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company, learn choreography by Kathy Dunn Hamrick, and perform in the festival.
Pop-Up Dances are free performances held in outdoor public spaces. Look out.
College Dance Fairs teach dance students and families about college dance departments and career options in the field of dance. Learn more.
SCHEDULE
Austin Dance Festival
July 14-17, 2022
Rollins Studio Theater at The Long Center
NEW PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH!
CHOREOGRAPHY INTENSIVE
For Intermediate and Advanced Dancers ages 13-18
Choreography will be performed onstage at Rollins Theater during the festival’s Youth Edition on July 17
- Take Master Classes
- Learn Choreography
- Tour ACC’s Dance Department
- Perform at Austin Dance Festival
SCHEDULE
July 9-10, 2022:
12-4pm both days
ACC Highland’s Dance Studio, Bldg. 2000, Rm. 2550
July 17, 2022:
1-4pm
Rollins Theater at The Long Center
Cost: $70
Master Classes and Choreography by Members of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company
- Improvisation with Anna Bauer
- Modern Technique with Alyson Dolan
- Choreography by Jairus Carr
- Perform Choreography at Austin Dance Festival’s Youth Edition
Limited Availability!
Register HERE!
Learn more about KDH Dance: www.kdhdance.com
Have questions? email kathy@kdhdance.com
MEDIA
Artist Interviews
See more artist interviews at vimeo.com/austindancefestival
Dance on Film Trailers
Dance on Film Trailer 2021
Dance on Film Trailer 2020
PRESS
Austin Dance Festival 2021
David Robinson’s Reviews of Austin Dance Festival 2021
CTX Live Theatre, Part 1 of 2
CTX Live Theatre, Part 2 of 2
Austin Dance Festival 2020
David Robinson’s Review of Dance on Film 2020
Art Profiler - Dance on Film (Austin Dance Festival) Review
Austin Dance Festival 2019
David Robinson’s Backstage Perspective
ArtProfiler - Part 1: Read about the Dance on Film showcase
ArtProfiler - Part 2: Read about the Professional showcase
ArtProfiler - Part 3: Read about the Youth Academy showcase
SIGHTLINES
Previews of Dance on Film screening
2019 Archive
2018 Archive
2017 Archive
FAQ
WHAT KIND OF DANCES AM I GOING TO SEE?
Our festival presents contemporary modern works. Since each dance reflects what is important to that particular choreographer, our programming is incredibly diverse. Look for expression, meaning, abstraction, virtuosity, minimalism, humor, gravity, grace, design, experimentation, movement invention, and more.
WHAT IS THE THEATER LIKE? DO I NEED TO BRING MY OPERA GLASSES?
We want our audience members to be close to the action and to enjoy great sightlines, so we present our showcases in small theaters where the seats are on risers so you won’t miss any of the action. Rollins Studio Theater is a 138-seat black box theater in The Long Center. Every seat is a great seat.
CAN I BRING MY FAMILY?
Yes, absolutely! You might also consider bringing young children to the Youth Edition Concert to see our pre-professional companies. These dances are typically shorter and perhaps better suited to young audiences than our professional showcases.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO AT THE FESTIVAL?
Browse our silent auction, listen as Kate Warren interviews the choreographers, take a master class, see Dance on Film and join the Director's Chat. The theater is located downtown across from Lady Bird Lake and near museums, restaurants, and shopping.
HOW DO YOU SELECT THE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS?
Dance artists and companies submit videos of their work to the festival. A diverse group of choreographers, educators, and dance writers from across the country review artist submissions and make recommendations based upon factors such as creativity and innovation, development of ideas, choreographic structure, execution, diversity, and historical, social, and cultural perspectives. The Executive Director uses the recommendations to curate showcases that highlight superior work in the broad field of modern dance, that demonstrate equitable representation, that showcase a variety of local, regional, and national work, and that deepen our understanding of ourselves and each other.
HOW DO YOU SELECT THE YOUTH DANCE COMPANIES?
Youth dance company directors submit videos of their company work to the festival.The festival directors strive to represent a wide range of modern dances from local, regional, and national youth dance companies. We look for submissions that are fully-realized pieces of choreography, that are well-rehearsed, and that are executed in a highly-proficient manner. The dances must also meet fundamental guidelines including but not limited to age range and length of dance.
HOW DO YOU SELECT THE FILMS?
Filmmakers submit their work exclusively through FilmFreeway. Dance on Film co-directors and guest panelists then view film submissions from around the world. We look for films that combine choreography and inventive elements of cinematography. The panel curates screenings in which dance forms such as tap, hip-hop, jazz, African diasporic dance, modern dance, folk dance, and ballet are central to the film’s narrative or structure.
ADA COMPLIANCE POLICY
Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company will provide reasonable modifications and equal access to communications by request. Please provide two weeks advance notice if you require accommodations. Contact: kathy@kdhdance.com or 512-934-1082.
WHAT ARE YOUR COVID PROTOCOLS?
TBA
I still have a question.
No problem! Shoot Lisa an email: lisa@austindancefestival.com
SPONSORS
Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department, The Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Amplify Austin and by supporters just like you. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individual and communities, visit arts.gov.
You can show your support for the festival by making a donation here.
Venmo @kdhdance
STAFF
Kathy Dunn Hamrick
Executive Producer of Austin Dance Festival
Executive and Artistic Director of KDH Dance
Director of Professional Showcases, Master Classes, Artist Interviews
kathy@kdhdance.com
Ilana Wolanow
Coordinator of the Opening Reception
Director of Front of House
Point of Contact for Business Sponsorships
Co-Director of Dance on Film and Director's Chats
President of Board of Directors for KDH Dance
ilana@austindancefestival.com
Roxy Gage
Director of the Youth Edition's Master Classes, Performances, and College Fair
roxy@austindancefestival.com
Lisa Anne Kobdish
Administrative Assistant for the Festival
Co-Director of Dance on Film
lisa@austindancefestival.com
Stephen Pruitt
Production Manager, Technical Director, Lighting Designer
fluxiondesigns.com stephen@fluxiondesigns.com