LEWISTON — The Bates Dance Festival offers its three-week Youth Arts Program from July 25 through Aug. 12 at the Benjamin Mays Center on the campus of Bates College.

Now in its 18th year, YAP has changed the lives of many young people, enhancing self-confidence and opening up new avenues of expression. Offering opportunities to experience music, dance, storytelling and visual arts classes, the program enriches local children’s lives through learning and access to the arts. YAP provides high-quality arts experiences by bringing kids together with master artists in residence at the Bates Dance Festival.

YAP takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and will enroll 70 students aged 6 to 17. Students are placed into three age groups: years 6-9, 10-12 and 13-17. Each group takes daily classes in dance, music, visual arts and storytelling. A healthy lunch and snacks are provided. The program costs $610. A limited number of scholarships are available for qualifying students.

For more information, call the Bates Dance Festival office at 786-6381 or visit www.batesdancefestival.org/youthprogram.php

The only qualification for admission is an enthusiasm for the arts and a willingness to try new things. Students at all levels of experience are invited to participate and develop new skills.

During the three-week program, participants learn a dynamic range of modern, ballet, hip-hop and social dance styles. They experience musical genres from around the world. And they experiment with poetry and visual art techniques.

Program highlights include special master classes taught by internationally renowned artists in residence at the Bates Dance Festival. In addition, all students receive complimentary tickets to select festival performances including Camille A. Brown and Dancers, July 15-16; Nicholas Leichter Dance, July 21 and 23; Zoe | Juniper, July 29-30; David Dorfman Dance, August 5-6; and “Different Voices,” Aug. 11-12.

Culminating the program, YAP students will create and stage a special production to be performed Saturday, Aug. 7, in Alumni Gymnasium, Bates College, as part of the Festival Finale concert of the dance festival.

Returning as codirectors of the program are Dana Reed and Terrence Karn, who will teach classes along with Patrick Ferreri, Yvonne Hernandez, Rosemary Leach and Priscilla Rivas.