American Dance Festival's 2010 lineup

American Dance Festival
DPAC and Reynolds Industries Theater
June 17–July 24

It usually begins around the vernal equinox: One by one, the tender green press releases emerge, each carrying the promise of concerts to come from the region’s major modern dance companies and presenters. Upcoming shows include N.C. State’s Afrocentric Panoramic Dance Project concert on Apr. 7, Peace College Dance on Apr. 8–10, Robin Harris’ N.C. State Dance Company April 22-23, a Meredith DanceWorks weekend culminating in an adjudicated concert on April 25, and Duke Dance’s ChoreoLab with edgy guests So Percussion, April 24–25.

But the spring season unofficially began with the American Dance Festival’s combination dance party/ 2010 season announcement on March 19 at Golden Belt. After financial reversals cut a week and a half from the festival’s main-stage programming last year, they’re back to a full schedule of 13 presentationsseven at Duke’s Reynolds Industries Theater, six at Durham Performing Arts Centerover six and a half weeks beginning June 10.

Once again, the season tilts heavily in favor of companies and artists seen before. Ten of the 13 main-stagers have previously presented works at ADF: African-American Dance Ensemble, which opens the season, June 10–12; Inbal Pinto & Avshalom Pollack’s Dance Company, June 17–19; Mark Dendy’s Dancetheater, June 21–23; and Eiko and Koma, June 28–30. The July returnees include Pilobolus, July 1–3; Martha Clarke, July 5–7; Brenda Angiel’s Aerial Dance Company, July 8–10; Rosie Herrera, July 12–14; Paul Taylor, July 15–17; and Shen Wei, July 22–24.

As for the first-timers, ADF presents two of the three on the same night: Monica Bill Barnes & Company and Kate Weare Company, June 15–16; with Canadian hip-hoppers RUBBERBANDance Group appearing June 24–26.

The season’s eight world premieres reflect an increase from five in 2009. Tatiana Baganova presents a new work during the Past/Forward concert, July 19–21, and Paul Taylor, Rosie Herrera, Shen Wei and Mark Dendy will premiere new works in their concerts. Notable collaborations this year include Martha Clarke’s work with playwright/screenwriter Alfred Uhry on a new piece about the Shaker Movement, after Pilobolus stages two works made with comic artist Art Spiegelman and kid’s rock musician Dan Zanes.