GRDF aims to provide contemporary dance choreographers from diverse geographic locations an occassion to exchange artistic ideas with one another and to share their work with a supportive audience. The GRDF is also interested in encouraging participating dance artists to build networks with colleagues in other geographic areas that will lead to future performance opportunities. In selecting artists to perform at GRDF, preference is given to those who share this vision and who may provide performance opportunities for other artists.

The Festival is part of a larger initiative to make contemporary art accessible to a broad range of people, to recognize the values that urban and rural artists have to share with each other and with their audiences, and to encourage rural performing artists to create and perform distinctive work.

Tosha Tillman in Take/Doubletake, choreography by Kitty Clark (photo: Dennis Crosby/ slainteimages.com)