Bates Dance Festival: LaTasha Barnes presents The Jazz Continuum

Name: Bilingualism & Heritage Language Maintenance A Community Class with Dr. Jeanne Heil
Start: 2026-06-08T13:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-06-08T14:00:00-04:00
Location: University of Southern Maine Lewiston-Auburn College

The Jazz Continuum is an unapologetic celebration of the prolific power of Black American artistry with Jazz as its center. Barnes reaches back nearly 100 years, connecting dances that sprang from America’s Black Jazz music to dance and music expressions of today such as House, Vogue, Lindy Hop, Hip-Hop, Hand Dances, Line Dances and more! Performed by an all Black, intergenerational cast of dancers and musicians, The Jazz Continuum is also a celebration of community and collaboration. Each performer investigates their personal relationship to Jazz as they explore imaginings of its inspirations and reapplications.

“A generous, joyful elixir of an experience.” — Janine Parker, The Boston Globe

plus a free Artist Talk on Tuesday, July 18 at 7:30pm in The BDF Tent
The Jazz Continuum Visionary & Artistic Director LaTasha Barnes and Grammy award winning Musical Director Christopher McBride take a deep dive into the history and contemporary resonance of Jazz music and dance. Moderated by BDF Artist in Residence Gesel Mason.