Home
VT State Dance Festival Hits Year 24!
Once again, the Saturday before Thanksgiving marks the annual Vermont State Dance Festival (VSDF), now in its 24th year. Hosted in the Northeast Kingdom, this special event brings together student dancers and professionals from across Vermont, New Hampshire, and as far away as New York City to learn and share in the art of dance education and performance. Dancers and teachers alike participate in professionally led workshops across a variety of styles and techniques, collaborating through a reflective process to prepare for an evening performance open to the public.
Event Details & Ticket Information
The public is warmly invited and encouraged to attend the evening performance at the Lyndon Institute Alumni Auditorium on Saturday, November 21st at 7:00 PM. Admission is by donation, featuring performances by student dancers from across Vermont and as far as New York City!
- More Information & Registration: If you are a teenager interested in participating in the workshops or would like more information about the 24th Annual VT State Dance Festival, please contact Rebecca McGregor at 802-535-3636 or rebecca.mcgregor@lyndoninstitute.org by November 13th.
- Special Thanks: A sincere thank-you to the Lyndon Institute, VTSU-Lyndon, the Town of Lyndonville, and the Burklyn Arts Council for helping make this event possible in our rural Kingdom.
Festival Components
The Vermont State Dance Festival is composed of four main elements:
- Professional Workshops: Led by industry professionals, this year’s sessions focus on site-specific dance, Middle Eastern belly dance, spinal articulation, contemporary conversations in dance, Capoeira, Jazzercise, and musical theater.
- Adjudicated Feedback Session: A closed session where dancers perform prepared choreography to receive constructive feedback from professional artists. Written evaluations are provided on adjudication sheets so educators and students can refine their work for future performances.
- Choreography Blocks: Interactive sessions led by professional choreographers.
- Evening Public Showcase: A culminating performance by student and professional dancers alike open to the general public.
Our Mission
The mission of the VT State Dance Festival is to:
- Introduce students to new dance styles and techniques beyond their standard high school curriculum.
- Connect students directly with experienced professionals.
- Offer students the opportunity to perform before a larger, broader audience.
- Provide dance educators a space to collaborate, discuss industry topics, develop curriculum, share resources, and learn about new opportunities to bring back to their classrooms and studios.
- New this year: The festival will also highlight college-level programs showcasing student thesis work, followed by a Q&A session for high school and studio participants interested in pursuing dance in higher education.
Festival History
The Vermont State Dance Festival began in 2003. In 2002, while completing a college independent study, Lyndon Institute Dance Teacher Rebecca McGregor toured every Vermont high school with a dance program. She discovered a clear lack of collaboration, resource sharing, and opportunities for dance educators and students across Vermont to connect, learn from one another, and share knowledge.
To bridge this gap, the festival offers dance educators and high school dancers of all disciplines the chance to study new techniques with professional dancers and showcase their skills before professional artists, peers, and the public. In addition to participating in workshops alongside students throughout the day, dance educators attend a specialized morning workshop focused on key topics in dance education.
About
Lyndon Institute is a private, approved independent, and comprehensive town academy for grades 9-12, specializing in core and honors academics, fine and performing arts, and career services.
Member Of
© Lyndon Institute. All Rights Reserved.