About this Event
Led by Artistic Director Heather Stewart and Community Director Isabel Hunter, alongside company dancers, Creation Lab is a five-day immersion into the repertoire of little house dance.
During Creation Lab, dancers participate in improvisational testing grounds and contemporary dance practices, while engaging in a creative process through which we develop and make a choreographic score.
Creation Lab focuses on the exploration of collective creation and offers artists the space to bring their own artistic research into the room. Participants have the opportunity to perform at the end of the week in the format of informal studio sharing for parents, friends, and community members.
Creation Lab is geared towards dance and performance artists who are looking to expand their performance practice and explore methods of creation and improvisation.
There is no formal application or audition process to attend.
Winter Creation Lab takes place from Monday, January 4 through Friday, January 8, from 9:00 - 5:00 p.m.
The Early Bird rate is $430 for the full week through December 1. After December 1, the full-week rate is $500. Scholarships are available; please reach out to [email protected] for more information.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
little house dance is the artistic home of choreographer Heather Stewart, a space for contemporary dance, interdisciplinary performance, and collective creation in Portland, Maine, and beyond. After years of working as an independent artist, Heather founded little house to formalize her collaborative relationships with dancers, musicians, visual artists, and writers. Together, they create research-driven performances that value collaboration, experimentation, and care. As an organization, little house challenges the notion that exceptional dance can only emerge from cities already recognized as established dance hubs, demonstrating ambitious, nationally relevant contemporary performances and encounters.
PARKING & TRANSPORTATION
The Greater Portland Metro’s Congress & Casco Street Stop is directly in front of Mechanics' Hall served by routes 1, 7, 8, and 9B.
Street Parking: Available on Congress, Casco, Cumberland, Free Street, and nearby streets. Pay by meter or the Passport Parking App. Free after 6 PM, on Sundays, and between Parris and Alder Street. Some blocks may vary — look for posted signs.
Garages: The Arts District Garage (41 Brown St) has 250+ spaces, is open 24/7, and accepts credit card only, with entrances on Brown, Cumberland, and Casco. The Elm Street Garage (21 Elm St) is conveniently near the Portland Library. The Spring Street Garage is three blocks away at 45 Spring St.
ACCESSIBILITY
To enter our building, patrons will need to navigate a single step or use a modular ramp. Please note that the wheelchair ramp has a steep 17" incline.
A wheelchair-accessible elevator is available. The elevator is 60" deep, 48" wide, with a 32" door opening. There are four wheelchair-accessible bathrooms on the third-floor level, adjacent to the Ballroom.
If you have a wheelchair or need accessibility accommodations/questions, please contact us at [email protected] or 207-773-8396.
Event venue & nearby stays
Mechanics' Hall, 519 Congress Street, Portland, United States
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