06/03/2026
Explore Durham:
American Dance Festival
Duke University & venues across Durham, NC
For more than 90 years, the American Dance Festival has stood at the forefront of modern dance, earning recognition from The New York Times as “one of the nation’s most important institutions” and from the New York Post as “the world’s greatest dance festival.” Since relocating to Duke University in 1978, ADF has become deeply woven into Durham’s cultural identity, bringing internationally acclaimed performers, choreographers, students, and educators to the Bull City each summer.
Originally founded in 1934 as the Bennington School of the Dance, ADF helped shape the future of modern dance through the work of pioneering artists including Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman, and Hanya Holm. Over the decades, the festival has supported and commissioned groundbreaking work from influential choreographers such as Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, Merce Cunningham, Bill T. Jones, Mark Morris, and Pilobolus, helping define the evolution of contemporary performance.
Today, the American Dance Festival continues to balance performance, education, and artistic experimentation through world-class productions, summer intensives, professional workshops, and community programs. Each season brings performances, premieres, and collaborations that connect Durham to the global dance community while continuing the festival’s longstanding commitment to creativity, preservation, and artistic growth.
From emerging young dancers to internationally recognized companies, the American Dance Festival remains one of Durham’s most influential and inspiring cultural traditions. Its continued presence reflects Durham’s longstanding support for the arts and the city’s role as a place where creativity and innovation continue to thrive.
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