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

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TICKETS

APPLY

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Professional Artist

Guidelines, FAQs, and Application

YOUTH DANCE

GUIDELINES, FAQS, AND APPLICATION

MEDIA

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Artist Interviews

See more artist interviews at vimeo.com/austindancefestival

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Dance on Film Trailers

Dance on Film Trailer 2021

Dance on Film Trailer 2020

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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

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2019 Archive

2018 Archive

2017 Archive

FAQ

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WILL THERE BE AN AUSTIN DANCE FESTIVAL IN 2022?

We hope so, but due to COVID’s evolution, we are not ready to announce dates or open artist submissions. For 2021, we presented a totally reimagined dance festival outdoors at Pioneer Farms, so I imagine we’ll figure out something for 2022. The sooner everyone gets vaccinated, the sooner we can plan our festival. Check back here for updates, but you can also follow the festival on facebook and instagram and get the scoop.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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I still have a question.

No problem! Shoot Lisa an email: lisa@austindancefestival.com

SPONSORS

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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.

STAFF

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