LEWISTON – The Bates Dance Festival will continue this week with performances by Philadelphia’s Rennie Harris Puremovement, a troupe of the leading ambassadors of hip-hop dance.

The group will give four performances of “Facing Mekka” Thursday through Sunday. The work features a cast of 17 performers, live percussion, video projections, multiple DJs and original music performed by Philip Hamilton, Kenny Muhammed a.k.a. the human orchestra, and “HotMouth” composer Grisha Coleman.

“Facing Mekka” traces the African lineage of hip-hop from aboriginal dance, ceremonial African dances and Capoeira, fused with the hip-hop styles of B-boy (breaking) and house (freestyle club).

Exploring the global face of Islam through a collage of movement, rhythm, sound and image, “Facing Mekka” offers dance as a vehicle for uniting people and cultures. Puremovement celebrates dance as a spiritually liberating force. “Facing Mekka” is a show appropriate for all ages.