The ADF’s Board of Directors serves to both maintain and develop the traditions of the American Dance Festival. Working closely with Festival directors, board members add their valuable insight to the areas of development, marketing, and outreach. CyberDance sat down with a few board members at the King’s Daughters Inn to talk about their experiences of ADF’s contributions to the Durham community.

Preparing for the upcoming Past/Forward performances, costume designer Kathy Grillo spent an afternoon fitting the dancers for their costumes. The costume shop back stage of Reynolds Industries Theater is a space where not only are new costumes designed and made, but also fixed, as touring companies inevitably need them to be.

ADF dancers take the stage again for the fourth year as the Past/Forward program celebrates new and classic works. With works by Jerome Robbins, Merce Cunningham, and Tatiana Baganova, it is a show not to be missed! The Past/Forward performances will be at the Reynolds Industries Theater at 8pm, July 19-21. CyberDance spoke with a dancer from each of the pieces.

Noted as one of the greatest choreographers of modern dance, Paul Taylor recently sat down to talk with ADF Director Charles Reinhart to a room full of aspiring dancers and choreographers. A man with no shortage of humor, Mr. Taylor told stories, spoke about his life’s work, his process, and most of all, gave gems of wisdom to everyone in the room.

Every year, hundreds of students attend scholarship auditions for the ADF School at locations across the country. Awards are based on creative potential, technical ability, and financial need. These scholarships are possible thanks to the generous support of donors to the ADF. CyberDance spent some time with two ADF scholarship students.

CyberDance spoke with Rodger Belman about his site-specific work at the Duke Gardens made in collaboration with ADF students. The performance is Sunday, July 18 at 10 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.