The annual Festival of Dance historically showcases choreographers and dancers with a diverse range of style and technique, since 1983. It is a "something for everyone" program meant to electrify, entertain and educate audiences with the wide scope of this very exciting art form.

"The Ulster Ballet Company Hosts Exciting Festival of Dance. A classically trained company doing such a turnabout is more than fair play, it's a revelation. Scarlett Fiero and Quiedo Carbone and their Board have attracted top notch dance companies from New York City and New England to join in celebrating dance. If previous presentations were great, this one rated superlative raves." –
Entertainment by Marianne D. Darrow

Dance Companies that participated in last year's Festival of Dance: (Company biographies follow)

• Alexandra Kochis and Robert Moore
Our featured dancers - both formally with Boston Ballet, now on staff with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
                  "Spring Waters"
                  "Moonlight"

• Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company -
                  "Vooz-é-la"
"a gorgeous, juicy dance, one of Sinopoli's best....crisp, sensual and pure fun all at once." — Times Union

• Energy Dance Company -
                  "Urban Attitude"

• Native American
                  "Hoop Dance"

• New Generation Dance Company
                  "Spring"
                  "Ne Me Quitte Pas"
                  "Tango Argentino"

• Solas An Lae (Light of Day)
                  "Kila Piob"
"an emotional multi-media experience." — Brian Mahoney, Chronogram magazine
"A new Breed of Irish Dance"

• Ulster Ballet Company
                  "Rising Waters"

• Vanaver Caravan
                  "When the Saints go Marching in"

• Vassar Repertory Dance Theater
                  "Skull and Bones Club"

Alexandra Kochis and Robert Moore - Alexandra Kochis, a Massachusetts native, joins PBT with her husband, Christopher Budzynski, a new soloist, for her first season with the company. She received her training at Boston Ballet School and spent summers studying at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington DC, and the School of American Ballet in New York City. She joined Boston Ballet II in 1995 and was promoted to corps de ballet in 1998. Some of her featured roles include Songbird Fairy and Pas de Trois in The Sleeping Beauty, Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, Effie in La Sylphide and cowgirl in Rodeo.

A native of Indiana, Robert began his dance training at the age of ten at the White River Ballet School. He also began intensive study at Jordan Academy of Arts in Indianapolis. Additionally, he received dance scholarships from Milwaukee Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Boston Ballet. Robert joined the Boston Ballet immediately after his three-year study at the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida.

Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company - The pre-eminent modern dance company of the Capital Region, presents the provocative and richly imagined choreography of Artistic Director Ellen Sinopoli. Now in its 16th season, ESDC shares its work with diverse audiences through concerts, showcases, residencies, workshops and educational outreach, seeking to enrich our community by enhancing the appreciation, understanding and experience of contemporary performing arts. "Exuberant, serendipitous, gutsy and soaring" and "magicians in motion" are just some of the expressions used to describe ESDC dancers who delight audiences of all ages with movement that celebrates rhythm, energy and musicality. Its performances at professional, regional and college theaters include The Sage Colleges, Hudson Valley Community College, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, The Arts Center of the Capital Region, SUNY Cobleskill, Greenville Cultural Arts Center, Old Forge Arts Guild, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Lake Placid Center for the Arts, NYC's Mulberry Street Theater, Inside/Out Series at Jacob's Pillow, Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, Avery Fisher Hall in NYC's Lincoln Center and Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood. The company's performances and arts-in-education programs reach more than 10,000 people each year.

Energy Dance Company - "The Dance & Drum Academy" of Kingston of "The Center For Creative Education" is proud to present the "Energy Dance Company", an innovative dance troupe that has swept the valley with its fresh and entertaining Hip-Hop, Reggae and Pop N Lock dance routines. They have won first place in the "Wild out Wednesday" segment of B.E.T.'s (Black Entertainment Television), "ShowTime at The Apollo" and "The Arnold Swarzenegger Arnold Classic Dance Competition" in Columbus, Ohio. They are consistently asked to bring their highly energetic routines to dance events all over the Hudson Valley and Tri-State areas.

Native American - Cliff Matias, of Quichua, Taino & Cherokee decent is a Native American Artist, Performer and Educator and the Director of the Redhawk Native American Arts Council. In 1994, Cliff began touring the country to perform his interpretation of the hoop dance conveying the story of creation, the circle of life and replicating over 25 different animal shapes using just five hoops. Cliff has performed for live audiences at New York's historical Apollo Theater and Rockefeller Center, as well as Madison Square Garden, Woodstock 1994 and 1999, and for former President Bill Clinton. His broadcast appearances have included "Good Day New York" and "Live with Regis and Kathy Lee," to name a few. Cliff also served as a consultant and dancer for the Dance Theatre of Harlem's ballet, "A Song for a Dead Warrior," and played Squanto in the National Museum of the American's "A Thanksgiving Story."

Ulster Ballet Company - The Ulster Ballet Company has been bringing area residents innovative and creative dance entertainment since 1977. Founded by Fred Douglas DeMayo, its original purpose was to give area dancers, both professional and aspiring, a platform to utilize their talents.

The Company has grown to include the talents of many area residents, not only dancers but artists, choreographers, stage professionals, actors, writers, and publicists. Strong civic support and the enormous amount of talent located in the Hudson Valley has made the Company a strong, highly-regarded force within the artistic community. The Artistic Directors of the Ulster Ballet Company are Scarlett Fiero and Quiedo Carbone.

Sara Miot, the Company Choreographer, began her dance career in New York City where she danced for several years with the New York City Ballet. Ms. Miot has choreographed many of the Company's ballets, including its yearly presentation of A Christmas Carol, which is a holiday tradition.

Vanaver Caravan - The Vanaver Caravan proudly presents an exciting snippet of the 1930's featuring the Four Jivadeers! In this exciting number Charleston and Lindy Hop is brought back in full force by the passion and enthusiasm of Ramona Staffeld, Evita Arce, Michael Jagger and Nathan Bugh. All four characters bring their own credentials of first place championship titles, world teaching tours, international commercials, extensive professional training in music and dance, plus appearances on TV and in movies.

Vassar Repertory Dance Theater - The Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre was founded in 1983 at Vassar College and is currently under the Artistic Direction of Paul D. Mosley. The company performs repertory works by established choreographers, as well as works created by the dance faculty and company members. A highlight of the company is its annual performance at the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, New York.