Michel Kouakou, 2009

These files document the Festival's faculty and other creative personnel, such as performers, lighting designers, and accompanists. Files contain correspondence with Festival staff; biographical notes and information, such as curriculum vitae; course descriptions; headshots and other publicity photographs; and press kits, which typically include reviews, pamphlets and other ephemera, and biographies. The series provides extensive information about how faculty is recruited and interacts with Festival staff to develop each year's courses, programs, and performances. Additionally, because some choreographers and dance artists, including Dan Wagoner and Dancers, Bebe Miller Company, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Doug Varone, David Dorfman, and Rennie Harris Pure Movement have participated many times in the festival over the years, the files document the artistic development of these performers.

Of particular note are transcripts of lectures by dance historian Suzanne Carbonneau (Levy) about festival works and performers delivered prior to the performance. These lectures, which are geared toward a general audience, provide a contextual basis from which to understand the work.

The series also includes some general information, such as form letter correspondence with faculty members and faculty directories. One file, related to potential faculty, is restricted for privacy reasons. Related faculty contracts and payment information can be found in Series I: Administrative Files. Additional photographs of performers taken at the Bates Dance Festival can be found in Series XI: Photographs.