DanceBARN Festival
July 22-28, 2024
Battle Lake, Minnesota
About the Festival
The DanceBARN Festival is an annual event that brings professional dancers, choreographers, and dance educators together for one week of dancing, creating, relaxing, and performing in the heart of the lakes.
Cost
How do we keep costs low?
We're a COLLECTIVE! The goal is to have a sense of community during the festival. Everyone attending contributes to the week. Cooking, cleaning, setup, takedown, guerrilla marketing. It takes a village.
All registration costs go toward space rental, organizing fees, lodging, and community events in addition to the grant funding and donations that make the festival possible. Have questions? Let us know.
MAKER
$250
Subsidized rate for teachers and choreographers.
Includes all classes and events.
MOVER
$300
Includes all classes and events.
LODGING
$250
(In addition to registration)
Gets you a shared cabin at the lake and dinner every night!
Check out The Hideaway at Xanadu Island!
There are many Airbnb's and resorts in our area, but they book up QUICKLY. If you would like to find your own lodging, we suggest doing so soon after hearing of acceptance.
FUNDING
We are excited to announce that DanceBARN is able to offer assistance
to a limited number of festival-goers thanks to generous
donations from the Will J Reid Foundation and Mary Pettit, Keller Williams! Please stay tuned for further information about making a financial assistance request.
Other Funding Support Resources:
2024 Festival Theme
10-Year Reunion of the DanceBARN Festival!
The DanceBARN Festival was dreamed up over coffee dates and lulls between classes while Molly and Ayumi were at the University of Oregon getting their MFAs in Dance. In the winter of 2014, Molly and Ayumi sat together on the floor of Molly's closet in St. Paul and started putting a plan in place. In July 2015, 12 dancers gathered in Battle Lake to pilot the idea. We camped in the backyard of Molly's parent's house, screened our first dance films in the garage, and started the tradition of cooking for one another each night. Since that first year, we've expanded the Festival in many ways, but the roots of our humble beginnings stand true: host a dance gathering in our rural community that is affordable, inclusive, and radically joyful.
In 2024, we plan to celebrate our 10th anniversary by bringing back Festival Alumni to reset dances that have been created in our community over the years, as well as welcome new creations! Unlike other years, we will open up spots to Festival Alums first, and new folks will be able to fill spots starting in May.
A Collective Experience
The DanceBARN Festival can't happen without you. Our directors curate a diverse week of classes, screenings, performances, recreational and community events. Choreographers are selected to produce work during the week-long festivities. Apply to be part of the 2020 Festival!
Share Dance with our Community
Battle Lake, Minnesota is a resorting community nestled in "the heart of the lakes" that thrives off of summer tourism. The town is supportive of the arts and always ready to learn from the dancers attending the festival. We would love you to share your passion for dance with our town!
Connect and Relax at the Lake
Not only do you get to spend an entire week dancing and creating with incredible teachers and choreographers, but you also enjoy communal meals, great conversation, and afternoons at the lake.
We are so excited to be partnering with The Hideaway at Xanadu Island for lodging!
Ways To Attend
Space is limited for both categories, but "Maker" applicants will be given preference.
MAKER
Teachers and choreographers can apply to attend the festival as a "MAKER." Selected artists will teach during the week and/or create work on dancers attending the festival. Makers are also able to attend all classes and other recreational happenings during the week.
MOVER
Dancers attending the festival as a "MOVER" are able to take all classes during the week, sign up to work with guest choreographers, and participate in other recreational happenings including kayaking, swimming, biking, and hiking.
The DanceBARN Festival is made possible by generous donations, sponsorships and grants including:
