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The natural beauty of Amelia Island lends itself to creativity in unique settings, inspiring movement and choreography. Amelia Island Dance Festival seeks to form community relationships through the enjoyment of dance and is dedicated to bringing world-class dance to the residents and visitors of Amelia Island through education, altruism, and performance.

John Manzari Special Performance

Thursday, July 13, 2023

The First Set is a high-energy show with tap dance as the focal point. John Manzari delights audiences with his creativity and craft. His show The First Set—featuring selections from traditional and modern masters—spotlights enduring connections between past and present.

AIDF 2023 Performances

September 8 - 10, 2023

More information coming soon!

Scholarship Award

The Amelia Island Dance Festival will present scholarship money to support a student who plans to pursue an education or career related to dance after graduation. Our goal is to award and recognize a student with exemplary skill or interest in dance.

MORE INFO

It’s our pleasure to announce the stunning artwork from Jax Hamilton for the fifth season's poster for the Amelia Island Dance Festival! This beautiful masterpiece called “The Disturbance of Wishing” will have your eyes & heart dancing in anticipation as you look forward to the next season’s performance.

Dance Festival Performances

Amelia Island Dance Festival was back on stage and live around the island in a celebration of the creative world of dance.

The three-day Series of Performances and Workshops at Amelia Community Theatre and the Courtyard Springhill by Marriott Amelia Island was September 9-11, 2022. Following a busy year of delivering dance ‘to go’ through eclectic video performances on YouTube including an homage to The Beach Lady, a duet at the Fernandina Airport, hip-hop at the historic Post Office and an ethereal evening at Bosque Bello, the Amelia Island Dance Festival is excited to bring dance to life live and person for its 4th season. Saturday and Sunday matinees have been added and 12 workshops will be offered this year. Festival Founder Susan Dodge, a professional dancer and director formerly of the acclaimed Paul Taylor Dance Company in New York, said “What makes dance unique is that your craft goes everywhere with you......no need to carry an instrument or a paintbrush. The expression of dance is individual and ever evolving...and dance comes in all flavors, styles, feelings and dynamics.” This year’s program features acclaimed and accomplished dancers who have performed on international stages, up-and-coming regional talents. Participation is not limited to a seat in the audience (although it bears mentioning that tickets for previous Festival performances have sold out within days.). There is also a weekend of workshops highlighting different kinds of dance, and all are invited to participate. “Everyone is a dancer. You’re a dancer when you move to a beat, to the music that moves you You move....which is dance.”

Wonderful local artists include: Ballroom On Amelia, Bean School of Dance, Bodyworks of Northeast Florida, Royal Dance Academy-Fusion, A Chance to Dance and The Island Tappers.

The annual festival will be held each September and the Amelia Island Dance Festival will continue to form community relationships through the enjoyment of dance, inspired by the island’s natural beauty.