On Saturday, August 24, 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Rochester, NH will literally be dancing, as hundreds are expected to attend the annual Lila Dance Festival, presented by nonprofit Lila Productions.

Featuring free performances at Rochester Common Park for all ages, the festival’s main stage will spotlight local professional dancers and choreographers, renowned international guest artists, and emerging choreographers from New Hampshire and the Seacoast region.

In total, the event will feature 20 professional performances of which 11 represent new works, presented by 16 professional choreographers and 45 professional dancers. Examples of professional artists include Philadelphia Ballet Yuval Cohen, Emily Wilson, Millie Heckler (2024 Resident artist for The Vermont Dance Alliance), and more.

“In addition to our main stage performances, we are excited about our special professional performance, Fairy Tales and Tutus,” explained Elyssa Moyer, co-founder of Lila Productions with husband Nathan. “This performance is geared toward kids and includes an ASL interpretation…The festival will also feature local studios in our student showcase.”

Other festival highlights include a tango piece by special 2024 guest artist, Alejandro Figliolo. Hailing from Buenos Aires, Figliolo is renowned in the global tango community, serving as teacher and performer at institutions such as Escuela de Danzas Tradicionales José Hernandez and Escuela Mundial de Tango Gabriela Elias.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Alejandro’s caliber in this region, so this is a chance to be uplifted and inspired by tango, a dance form rarely performed in the Granite State,” said Moyer.

In addition to performances, the Festival will include a beer garden, food vendors, and a calm room tent for individuals who may experience sensory overload. “It is important that this festival is inclusive for everyone,” added Moyer.

Free to the public, Lila Dance Festival performances will take place at 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 24 at Rochester Common Park with a rain date of Sunday, August 25.

Lila Productions’ mission is “to foster genuine appreciation for dance among diverse communities in New Hampshire through community outreach, educational initiatives, and live performances.”

Lila Productions is a Fellow in NH Dance Accelerator, a program developed by nonprofit New Hampshire Dance Collaborative (NHDC).Founded in 2017, NHDC’s mission is to make dance and expressive movements more well-understood and accessible to the public.