Durham, NC - The American Dance Festival is just days away from launching its 79th season of presenting the world's most dynamic and innovative modern dance. The 2012 season, which runs Thursday, June 14-Saturday, July 28 in Durham, will feature seven ADF Commissions, seven Company Debuts, six World Premieres, and two US Premieres that exemplify the place where ingenuity and tradition merge.

"It is with great excitement that I look forward to carrying on ADF's tradition of supporting new work while presenting both the debuts of many talented companies never before seen at the festival, as well as the beloved festival favorites who we are committed to supporting over time. With companies that encompass the unbelievable breadth of the modern dance field, there is undoubtedly something for everyone this season. We invite you to join us for a summer of beautiful dancing and inspiring choreography," says ADF director Jodee Nimerichter who is in her first year as festival director.

In total, 16 companies and choreographers will take the stage this summer with an incredible line-up of both distinguished favorites and cutting edge works. Dance enthusiasts will be glad to welcome back favorites including Keigwin + Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Pilobolus, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Mark Morris Dance Group. In keeping with ADF's lifelong tradition of presenting the world's newest works before they can be seen elsewhere, historic firsts will include, among others, two works by Pilobolus in collaboration with Michael Moschen and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, as well as a Festival favorite program, Footprints (previously called Past/Forward), which will feature premieres by Jodi Melnick, Helen Simoneau, and Reggie Wilson, set on the ADF dancers.

Along with the ADF debuts of the Footprints choreographers, the season will also host the festival debuts of the Stephen Petronio Company, Vertigo Dance Company (Israel), Ragamala Dance, and Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion, who was recently acclaimed by OUT Magazine as the "best and brightest creative talent to emerge in New York City in the age of Obama."

The ADF and the North Carolina Museum of Art also will co-present Shen Wei's newest work, Undivided Divided, among the galleries of the museum's award-winning West Building. A limited amount of tickets will be sold for this exclusive event.

The 2012 Festival performances take place at Reynolds Industries Theater at Duke University, the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), and the North Carolina Museum of Art. All performances will begin at 8 pm unless otherwise noted. Single tickets and subscriptions to ADF performances go on sale Monday, May 14th and can be purchased through the ADF website at www.americandancefestival.org. Prices range from $18 to $60, with many savings options available. More detailed information about ticket prices and performing companies, including photos, videos, and press reviews will be available on the ADF website on April 1, 2012.

The season is dedicated to former North Carolina Arts Council Executive Director Mary Regan. The ceremony honoring Regan will be held Thursday, June 13, at 7 pm prior to the season opening performance of Doug Elkins and Friends' Fraulein Maria at the Durham Performing Arts Center.