Erica Essner Performance Co-Op from New York City performs July 17-19 at this year’s Goose Route Dance Festival. Photo by Bill Hebert

The Goose Route Dance Festival is gearing up for its ninth season. Beginning on July 16, nine dance companies will be performing and teaching as part of their participation in this progressive arts event. Dance artists from New York City, Washington, DC, Columbus, Ohio, Buffalo, N.Y., Rochester, N.Y., and Shepherdstown converge for this 10-day dance extravaganza, which will serve nearly 1,000 people.

Four different shows, each performed twice, take place on Fridays, July 17 and 24 at 7 pm; Saturdays, July 18 and 25 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sundays, July 19 and 26 at 3 p.m. Ticket prices range from $10-15. These professional contemporary dance performances take place at the War Memorial Building, 102 East German Street, Shepherdstown, transformed into an intimate black box theater for the Festival.

Master classes in modern dance for adults and teens take place on Saturdays, July 18 and 25 and Sundays, July 19 and 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Taught by professional dance artists visiting Shepherdstown for the Festival, class cost is $12 for an individual class or $40 for all four. These also take place at the War Memorial Building.

Events for children include open dress rehearsals with the dance scavenger hunt on Fridays, July 17 and 24 at 10:30 a.m.; a creative dance class for kids ages 5-9 on Saturday, July 18, 9:30 a.m.; a dance class with a water theme on Thursday, July 23, 10:30 a.m. at the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library; and two classes for kids who are members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. All events for children are free.

Post-performance discussions, also free, will follow each of the matinee performances.

Tickets and more information are available at www.gooseroute.org. For a printed brochure, call (304) 876-6751.