Windhover Center for Performing Arts

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Rockport, MA
Windhover Center for Performing Arts

A performing arts center with studio spaces, dormitories and beautiful outdoor stage.
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In 1967, Herbert and Ina Hahn purchased the last farm in Pigeon Cove, a small village by the sea some two miles north of the town of Rockport, Massachusetts. The farm, on 4.5 acres of land, included a main house, cow barn, stables, slaughter house, various outbuildings and pasture land. In less than a year Herb Hahn single-handedly converted the barn into a dance studio, the stable into a library,

sheds and out-buildings into dormitories and he renovated the main house to function as a dining-kitchen complex. The performing arts camp for teenage girls opened in the summer of 1968 and during its seventeen years was filled to capacity with students from the USA, Canada and Mexico. During that period new buildings were added including a chapel/theater, a second dance studio, an outdoor stage for dance and theater performances, and a dining hall and kitchen in the main barn. The architectural treasures Hahn collected have made this a unique place — a mini-New England village replete with hand-hewn beams, barn siding, statuary, stained glass windows, wrought iron railings, lanterns, and granite boulder walls. The place was named “Windhover” after a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins, whose “Windhover” is a falcon (or seagull) that hovers in the air against the wind, and symbolizes the soaring of man’s imagination and the spiritual quest that informs art. After the death of Herb Hahn, Windhover became a non-profit tax-exempt corporation, Windhover Foundation, and underwent the gradual transition from a camp to a performing arts center. In 1983 Windhover became a 501(c) (3) non-profit foundation, and, in 1986, changed its focus from an arts camp for teenage girls to a performing arts center, expanding its mission to include more citizens of the North Shore community and to focus on creating works that reflected the community. Windhover now offers classes and workshops in dance, music and theater for all ages, as well as outdoor performances throughout the summer.

06/23/2026

We look forward to welcoming everyone to Windhover for this inspiring season kickoff TONIGHT! https://windhover.org/event/saving-grace-dance-ensemble-presents-artfulness-june-2026/

06/17/2026

An incredible showcase of dance comes to the Windhover Outdoor Stage Tuesday, June 23. Did you get your tickets yet? 👀 You won't want to miss this.

Saving Grace Dance Ensemble: ARTFULNESS Tuesday, June 23, 7:00PM Windhover Center for the Performing Arts Outdoor Stage 27R Granite St, Rockport, MA 01966 Tickets: General Admission $37 |…

06/11/2026

🔆SUMMER TEEN DANCE INTENSIVE FACULTY SPOTLIGHT🔆
BETSY MILLER (Ballet and Improvisation)

Betsy is a dance artist, educator, and facilitator based in Salem, MA. Her work has been presented in venues across the country, from Jacksonville to Seattle and Las Vegas to New York. She has performed with Lostwax Multimedia Dance and Fusionworks, and has appeared in works by Kathleen Hermesdorf, Heidi Henderson, and Audrey MacLean, and in collaborations with Matthew Cumbie, Lida Winfield, Meghan McLyman, and Shawn Hove. Currently serving as Associate Professor of Dance at Salem State University, Miller has been on faculty at Providence College, Connecticut College, Dean College, and AS220, and regularly teaches as a guest artist at colleges and studios throughout the country. She holds an MFA in Dance from The Ohio State University and a BA in Dance from Connecticut College. more info: betsymillerdanceprojects.com

OUR SUMMER TEEN INTENSIVE RUNS AUGUST 3-8. SCHOLARSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE!

👉 CLICK BELOW FOR MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION https://windhover.org/classes/summer-teen-intensive/

06/10/2026

📣📣📣📣 Work-Trade Opportunities at Windhover 📣📣📣📣

Love live performance and want to be part of the experience?
Join the work-trade team at Windhover and earn free tickets to performances while helping our events run smoothly.

Work-trade members assist with ushering, directing parking, or helping with stage setup and event logistics. In exchange for your time and support, you'll receive complimentary admission to performances and become part of the vibrant and welcoming Windhover community.

Help make the magic happen—and enjoy the show!
Email us at [email protected] to let us know you're interested in work-trade opportunities for the 2026 season.

06/09/2026

🔆SUMMER TEEN DANCE INTENSIVE FACULTY SPOTLIGHT🔆
ALISON COOK BEATTY (Choreographic Process)

Alison is the Founder and Artistic Director of Alison Cook Beatty Dance, a New York City–based modern dance company now in its 14th season. A graduate of The Boston Conservatory, she danced with the Paul Taylor Dance Company (Taylor 2) before founding her own company in 2012. Her choreography blends musicality, theatricality, and emotional depth, and has been presented throughout New York City and nationally. In addition to her performance work, Alison is a dedicated educator, teaching technique and creative process to pre-professional students and leading outreach programs for children and seniors. Her classes emphasize musicality, clarity of intention, and discovering personal voice through movement.
Alison Cook Beatty Dance will be in residence at Windhover during the Teen Intensive as they create a new site-specific work for Quarry Dance 2026 and will be featured in a split bill on the outdoor stage with fellow Teen Intensive faculty Hollis Bartlett and Nattie Trogdon on August 8 at 7pm.

👉 CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION https://windhover.org/classes/summer-teen-intensive/

06/02/2026

🔆SUMMER TEEN DANCE INTENSIVE FACULTY SPOTLIGHT🔆
MICHELLE DEANE (Jazz Dance)
Michelle Deane started her dance training in Southern California, where she studied at Desert Ballet Centre. She graduated with a BFA in Dance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and continued her education at Cambridge College, receiving her M.Ed. Michelle has been member of many dance companies, including Adrienne T. Hawkins Day Job Dancers, Beantown Lockers, Six One Seven Dance Collective, Rainbow Tribe Dance Company, Triiiple Threat Entertainment, and Synergy Dance Company, and was also co-founder and choreographer for Amara Dance Company. Michelle’s true passion is in teaching, and she currently serves on faculty at Salem State University and Middlesex Comm. College.
Click here to learn more and to register! https://windhover.org/classes/summer-teen-intensive/

05/30/2026

🔆SUMMER TEEN DANCE INTENSIVE FACULTY SPOTLIGHT🔆

Nattie Trogdon and Hollis Bartlett (Modern/Contemporary Technique and Repertory)

Nattie + Hollis have been guest artists and taught masterclasses at Princeton University, NYU, Swarthmore College, The Dalton School, SUNY Brockport, MIT, Nazareth College, and Rutgers University.

Their work has been commissioned by universities such as San Jose State University, Ailey/Fordham, SUNY Purchase, Roger Williams University, University of Maryland, and Salem State University.

As sought-out educators they have taught open classes and workshops throughout NYC at Peridance, The Floor, Gibney, MOtiVE Brooklyn, Triskelion, Mark Morris Dance Center and at festivals such as The Bates Dance Festival, The Dance Complex, 14 Street Y, and freeskewl. They spent many years as adjunct faculty at SUNY Purchase and Montclair State University - teaching contemporary technique, improvisation, partnering, and composition. Currently they are teaching fellows at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Click here to learn more and to register! https://windhovercenterfortheperformin.regfox.com/summer-teen-dance-intensive

05/28/2026

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Things are really starting to come alive on campus, and it's thanks to the generous hearts and capable hands of our volunteers! The work continues this weeked this Saturday, May 30 from 9am-4pm and Sunday May 31, 9am-4pm.

This weekend, we will be working inside: assembling new bed frames, hanging curtains, putting covers on mattresses and the like. We will be working rain or shine. If you've ever found joy in sprucing up a bedroom for a beloved guest to visit, this weekend is for you!

If you can come by for a few hours or even a whole day, you will help ensure a comfortable stay for the incredible artists who will be creating and sharing at Windhover this summer. There are lots of tasks, big and small. Just email [email protected] or send us a DM here on Facebook and let us know to expect you. We'll have lots of snacks to keep everyone fueled.

04/15/2026

2026 SEASON TICKETS ARE ON SALE! Snag your tickets now for these wonderful performances!
https://windhover.org/

🔷JUNE 23: Robyn Movsessian/Saving Grace Dance Ensemble collaborative dance showcase
🔶JUNE 27-28: United Flamenco
🔷AUGUST 8: Alison Cook Beatty Dance / Nattie Trogdon + Hollis Bartlett (NYC contemporary dance split bill)
🔶AUGUST 14-15: Limón Dance Company
🔷AUGUST 16: Stan Strickland jazz
🔶AUGUST 23: Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band
🔷AUGUST 27: BoSoma Dance Company
🔶SEPTEMBER 5: Soumya Rajaram, Priya Bangal, and Sapna Govindan present Samãgata (classical Indian dance)

04/08/2026

📢📢📢 Just a few more days to get an Early Bird Discount when you sign up for our Summer Teen Dance Intensive! Led by a team of NYC and Boston-based faculty, this is truly a one-of-a-kind summer dance experience designed to grow and inspire the next generation of artists 🤩🤩🤩
https://windhover.org/classes/summer-teen-intensive/

Address

257R Granite Street
Rockport, MA
01966

Website

http://www.windhover.org/

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