American Dance Festival offers performances for kids

The American Dance Festival in Durham opens Thursday with some cutting edge performances by acclaimed professional dance companies from around the world.

Posted 12:05 a.m. Jun 6, 2014 — Updated 12:05 a.m. Jun 6, 2014

The American Dance Festival in Durham opens June 12 with some cutting edge performances by acclaimed professional dance companies from around the world.

It's a unique opportunity to catch some stunning modern dance performances, not something you see every day around here. It runs through July 26.

The festival, which also offers year-round classes and programs for all ages, will host special children's Saturday matinees, one-hour shows designed for kids. After each of the matinees, a free kids' party follows in the lobby of the Durham Performing Arts Center with live music, face painting, snacks and other activities.

Tickets to the performances are $16 each or you can buy tickets to all three of the performances for $32.25. They take place at 1 p.m. at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

Here's the schedule for the children's matinees with descriptions from the festival's website:

Ballet Hispanico on June 21: Ballet Hispanico’s fresh repertory melds Latin dance with classical and contemporary techniques to create a new theatrical and passionate style.

Pilobolus on June 28: Pilobolus is an ADF audience favorite for a reason. High-octane, accessible, and always unique, this is a company for dance lovers and newcomers alike.

Paul Taylor Dance Company on July 19: Paul Taylor is one of the greatest pioneers of America’s indigenous art of modern dance. At an age when most artists’ best works are behind them, Mr. Taylor continues to win public and critical acclaim for the vibrancy, relevance, and power of his creations.

The festival also offers a deal for kids ages 6 to 16. They are invited to attend any evening festival performance for free with the purchase of a single ticket or subscription. So a parent could purchase a ticket and then take their child to the performance for free.

There are a limited number of Kids' Night Out tickets available for each performing company. And some of the programs may contain some adult themes or nudity, so it's best to check with the festival before making plans to attend a performance. Programs with known adult content should be noted on the festival's website (but it's never a bad idea to double check).

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