LEWISTON — The celebrated French-Canadian folk musician, singer and dancer Benoit Bourque will bring his distinctive joie-de-vivre to Lewiston later this month for a three-day community residency featuring music and dance activities for all ages, from kindergarteners to senior citizens.

On Saturday, May 19, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in Room 170 at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College, Bourque will lead a French-Canadian song workshop assisted by his 22-year-old son Antoine on accordion. Lyric sheets will be provided so that anyone can participate regardless of their fluency with the French language. Admission is $1. This event is sponsored by the Franco-American Collection at USM LAC, which is at 51 Westminster St.

Later that same day, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library, Benoit will serve as caller for a Quebecois-style “barn dance” with music provided by Antoine and a homegrown orchestra of local fiddlers and other Maine musicians. This event is designed for school-age youth, parents, grandparents and other “young-at-heart” adults who would like to learn an assortment of fun and easy French Canadian contra and square dances. Admission is $1. The library is at 200 Lisbon St.

On that Saturday evening the Bates College Department of Theater and Dance will sponsor a pair of events on campus at Chase Hall in which local teens, college students and other young adults will have the opportunity to learn two different types of traditional French Canadian dance. Tap dancers, cloggers or others with percussive dance experience are invited to participate in a 7 p.m. master class in Quebecois step dancing with Benoit.

At 8 p.m., he will instruct attendees in quadrilles and other French Canadian social dances to music performed by his accordionist son Antoine, Lewiston violinists Greg and Jessie Boardman and others. No prior dance experience is required to participate in the social dancing, according to Bourque. Admission to the step dance class and the social dance session is $1 each. Both activities are open to youth from age 13 up through those in their 20’s. Chase Hall is at 56 Campus Ave.

Other events taking place during the Bourque duo’s Lewiston visit include folk dance workshops for students in grades K-6 at Farwell School on Friday, and concerts at Bates College on Friday night and Sunday afternoon. More information on all events is available at www.mainefolqueco-op.com or by calling 782-0386.

The community residency was organized by the Maine Folque Co-op in collaboration with Bates College, Lewiston-Auburn College, the Lewiston Public Library, the Lewiston chapter of the Association Canado-Americaine/Royal Arcanum and the Farwell School PTA.