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.

On Sunday, August 18, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Lila Productions will present Milonga!, featuring Argentine tango and choreography by Alejandro Figliolo, renowned tango dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Buenos Aires.

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

Taking place at The Music Hall Lounge, Milonga! will also be performed with live music, featuring Skye Darling and Yusef Saife. In addition, guests will have the option to participate in a tango class before the immersive performance, which will also include a choreographed tango show and an opportunity for attendees to dance in a ‘milonga.’

“‘A milonga’ is a social event where people gather to dance tango,” said Nathan Moyer, co-founder of Lila Productions, a Rochester, NH-based nonprofit. “This offers the audience an opportunity to really engage with the performance.”

Milonga! will be performed from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 18 at The Music Hall Lounge in Portsmouth. Tickets are $30 for the event and $45 for the class and event. To purchase tickets, visit themusichall.org or lilaproductions.org.

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

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

On Thursday, August 15 at 5:00 p.m., New Hampshire Dance Collaborative (NHDC) will host Excerpts and Investigations: Milonga! at Kimball Jenkins School of Art in Concord.

Free to the public, the event will preview excerpts from Lila Production’s upcoming show, Milonga!, at The Music Hall Lounge in Portsmouth on Sunday, August 18 and investigations into their approach to performance. Milonga! will feature Alejandro Figliolo, a renowned tango dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Buenos Aires.

According to NHDC Founder Joan Brodsky, Excerpts and Investigations (E&I) is an immersive, multi-disciplinary experience that features expressive movement and discussions that promote deeper understanding.

“E&I reveals the creative process behind performance and dance,” she said. “It’s a chance to peel back the layers of expressive arts in approachable and interesting ways.”

For those unfamiliar with tango, Lila Productions Co-Founder Elyssa Moyer said E&I is “a unique opportunity” to not just see it in action, but learn more about it.

“Tango dance is intimate and expressive, emphasizing connection, improvisation, and intricate footwork,” she explained. “It involves a close embrace between partners and reflects the passion and resilience of the Argentine people. We are looking forward to this special preview performance.”

NHDC’s fourth iteration of E&I, Excerpts and Investigations: Milonga! begins at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 15 at Kimball Jenkins School of Art in Concord. The event will feature wine and a short, moderated discussion followed by a brief performance by Figliolo and Nathan and Elyssa Moyer, co-founders of Lila Productions. 

Founded in 2017, NHDC’s mission is to make dance and expressive movements more well-understood and accessible to the public. Lila Productions is a Fellow in NHDC’s NH Dance Accelerator. To learn more about Lila Productions, visit lilaproductions.org.

The Lila Dance Festival will return to Rochester Common Park in Rochester, New Hampshire on Saturday, August 24 at 1:00 p.m. A nonprofit founded by Nathan and Elyssa Moyer in 2022 and a Fellow of New Hampshire Dance Collaborative (NHDC), Lila Productions is organizing the festival.

Free to the public, the event will include live music, food and drink vendors, and multiple dance shows throughout the afternoon and evening. “Our lineup features an exciting array of performances to suit every taste,” said Elyssa.

Featured guest artists at this year’s Lila Dance Festival are choreographer Alejandro Figliolo and Philadelphia Ballet’s Yuval Cohen and Emily Wilson. All other dancers are local to New Hampshire and surrounding areas.

“Our mission is to foster genuine appreciation for dance among diverse communities in New Hampshire through community outreach, educational initiatives, and live performances,” said Nathan. “It’s important for people in the area to know that there are many talented dancers and choreographers here and that they don’t need to go far to enjoy excellent dance performances.”

Selected as a 2024 Fellow in NHDC’s NH Dance Accelerator program, Lila Productions has received support and guidance, including mentorship from founder Joan Brodsky. “Joan is a champion of New Hampshire dance, and her mission aligns perfectly with ours,” added Nathan.

Dance performances at the Lila Dance Festival 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. A preview performance, “Milonga!,” will take place at The Music Hall Lounge in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Sunday, August 18 at 12:00 p.m. 

Founded in 2017, NHDC’s mission is to make dance and expressive movements more well-understood and accessible to the public. Lila Productions is a Fellow in NHDC’s NH Dance Accelerator Program. Click here to learn more about Lila Productions and the Lila Dance Festival.

On Thursday, June 27 at 7:00 p.m. at The Rex Theatre in Manchester, nonprofit NSquared Dance Company will present The Lavender Scare. A little-known period in United States history, The Lavender Scare refers to the mass firing of federal government employees in the 1950s, which coincided with the era of McCarthyism.

According to Zack Betty, Co-Founder of NSquared Dance, The Lavender Scare will metaphorically express what it feels like to be hidden, found, interrogated, and persecuted based on sexual orientation.

“This message will be communicated both through dance movements and video elements,” he explained.

The Lavender Scare is sponsored by New Hampshire Dance Collaborative (NHDC) whose mission is to make dance and expressive movements more well-understood and accessible to the public.

“This performance contributes to advancing the NHDC mission by showcasing how dance can serve as an accessible platform that allows for political and historical expression,” said Betty.

NHDC Founder Joan Brodsky said she hopes the performance will encourage those unfamiliar with dance to reconsider “what they think they might know about it.”

“Dance can communicate what words cannot,” she said. “This is more than entertainment. This is truth expressed through the body and the lived-in experiences of people who continue to be marginalized.”

The Lavender Scare will be performed at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27 at The Rex Theatre in Manchester, New Hampshire. To purchase tickets, click here or the button below.

Founded in 2014, NSquared Dance performs throughout New England and offers educational classes and workshops for all ages. NSquared Dance is a Fellow of the NH Dance Accelerator with the New Hampshire Dance Collaborative (NHDC).