Vermont State Dance Festival Celebrates Its 23rd Year at Lyndon Institute

Lyndonville, VT — The Saturday before Thanksgiving once again marks one of Vermont’s most anticipated celebrations of movement and creativity: the 23rd Annual Vermont State Dance Festival (VSDF). This special event, hosted at Lyndon Institute, brings together student dancers and professionals from across Vermont  and as far away as New Hampshire and New York City - for a day dedicated to learning, collaboration, and performance.

Throughout the day, dancers and teachers participate in professionally led workshops spanning a range of styles and techniques. The festival culminates in an evening performance open to the public, where students showcase their artistry and the skills they’ve refined throughout the day’s work.

Founded in 2003, the Vermont State Dance Festival (VSDF) was born out of a vision for collaboration and connection. After touring high school dance programs across Vermont in 2002 as part of a college independent study, Rebecca McGregor, now Lyndon Institute’s Dance Teacher and Fine Arts Chair, recognized the need for a statewide space where dance educators and students could share ideas, learn from professionals, and celebrate the art of dance education.

Since its founding, the festival’s mission has been to expand access to diverse dance styles and techniques beyond the traditional classroom, foster collaboration between students and professional dancers, and provide young artists with opportunities to perform before broader audiences. Equally important, the festival serves as a professional network for dance educators to exchange curriculum ideas, share resources, and engage in ongoing development that strengthens dance education across Vermont.

Each year, the VSDF offers high school–aged dancers of all disciplines the chance to study under professional artists, receive personalized feedback from adjudicators, and showcase their talents in an inclusive, inspiring environment. Educators also benefit from specialized workshops focusing on innovative teaching strategies, curriculum design, and the evolving role of dance in education.

The Vermont State Dance Festival features three key components:

This year’s festival highlights collaboration and creativity, featuring a new three-hour afternoon workshop in which students will work directly with professional artists to create and perform an original piece for the evening showcase. Workshops will include modern, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop—helping dancers expand their choreographic toolbox, refine performance skills, and express themselves with confidence and artistry.

The public is warmly invited to attend the 23rd Annual Vermont State Dance Festival Showcase on Saturday, November 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the Lyndon Institute Alumni Auditorium. Admission is by donation, and performances will feature students from high school dance programs across Vermont, along with guest participants from New York City.

“This event represents the very best of Vermont’s creative community with young people coming together through movement, discipline, and shared artistry,” said McGregor. “Each year, the festival reminds us how dance builds connection, confidence, and joy.”

For more information about the 23rd Annual Vermont State Dance Festival, or to register as a teen participant, contact Rebecca McGregor at 802-535-3636 or rebecca.mcgregor@lyndoninstitute.org.

A special thank-you to Lyndon Institute, Vermont State University–Lyndon, the Town of Lyndonville, and the Burklyn Arts Council for their continued partnership and support in making this event possible for the Northeast Kingdom and beyond.