From staff reports

DURHAM -- The American Dance Festival will celebrate 77 years of modern dance by exploring "What is Dance Theater?" from June 10-July 24.

The festival will explore works of the dance theater genre, allowing audiences the opportunity to see the influences of theater on modern dance and the inspiration the art form has had on choreographers' artistic expression.

The 2010 season with performances at the Durham Performing Arts Center and Duke University will feature eight world premieres, including new works by:

n Mark Dendy, performed by Dendy Dancetheater.

n Pilobolus in collaboration with comics artist Art Spiegelman.

n Pilobolus in collaboration with children's rock star Dan Zanes.

n Martha Clarke in collaboration with Alfred Uhry.

n Shen Wei, featuring the choreographer himself, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of his company's founding at the 2000 ADF.

n Rosie Herrera.

n Tatiana Baganova, performed by ADF dancers.

n Paul Taylor in celebration of his 80th birthday.

The festival will also include the U.S. debut of Brenda Angiel's 8cho, performed by Brenda Angiel Aerial Dance Company, two reconstructions, Jerome Robbins' West Side Story Suite, performed by ADF dancers, and Merce Cunningham's Inlets 2, performed by ADF dancers, and five Dance Festival Company debuts:

n Monica Bill Barnes Company.

n Kate Weare Company.

n RUBBERBANDance Group.

n Inbal Pinto Avshalom Pollak Dance Company.

n Rosie Herrera.

Honorary chairwomen of the ADF are six former U.S. first ladies: Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Rosalynn Carter, Better Ford and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The 2010 season will also feature a retrospective program by Eiko Koma and Durham's own African-American Dance Ensemble.

Performances will once again take place in two locations. ADF @ DPAC performances will take place at the DPAC, and ADF @ DUKE performances will take place at Reynolds Industries Theater on Duke's West Campus.

For detailed information about the 2010 festival, ADF community programs, performing companies/choreographers, and to purchase tickets, visit www.americandancefestival.org.