36th annual Vail Dance Festival opens Friday
The first weekend of the festival will bring Dance Theatre of Harlem, Limón Dance Company, Colorado Ballet, and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Nir Arieli/Courtesy photo
The Vail Dance Festival kicks off on Friday, July 26 and will bring together renowned and emerging dancers, musicians, composers and choreographers from near and far. The festival will include 13 performances and numerous events throughout Vail and the surrounding communities through August 5.
“Reuniting in the heart of the Rockies to make and share art is something the dancers, musicians and audiences of all ages look forward to every year,” said artistic director Damian Woetzel. “As we arrive in Vail we are full of anticipation for the performances and all the special collaborations we will be making this season.”
Weekend events
Opening Night
Friday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail
Tickets starting at $32
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Saturday, July 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail
Tickets starting at $32
UpClose: SWERVE with Damian Woetzel
Sunday, July 28 at 6 p.m.
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail
Tickets starting at $32
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Myths by Legends
Monday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail
Tickets starting at $32
Tiny Dancer Tea Party
Saturday, July 27 at 10 a.m.
Social Courtyard at the Gerald R. Ford Amphiteater, Vail
Tickets: $50, includes entry for one adult and one child
Free community programs
Thursday, July 25 – Monday, July 29
Dancing in the Streets invites participants of all ages and abilities to join in on the fun. Choreographer Larry Keigwin comes to Lionshead Village on Thursday, July 25 at 5:30 p.m. to host a one-a-kind pop-up performance in front of Garfinkel’s Sports Bar. On Sunday, July 28 at noon, dancers of the Limón Dance Company will host similar a similar experience at the intersection of Bridge and Gore Streets.
Conversations on Dance
Vail Mountain School, Vail (New Location)
Tickets: $25
Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden sit down with artists of the Vail Dance Festival for live recordings of their popular “Conversations on Dance” podcast series. Early festival dates of the series include Dance Theater of Harlem Artistic Director Robert Garland (Saturday, July 27), choreographer Larry Keigwin (Sunday, July 28), and Limón Dance Company Artistic Director Dante Puleio (Monday, July 29). Each event starts at 10:30 a.m. and light refreshments will be served.
Master Classes
Vail Mountain School, Vail
Tickets: $30, participate and $15, observe (parent, guardian, or dance instructor)
Ballet with Dance Theatre of Harlem (Thursday, July 25 at 9 a.m.), Ballet with New York City Ballet’s Chun Wai Chan (Friday, July 26 at 9 a.m.), Repertory with Limón Dance Company’s Dante Puleio (Friday, July 26 at 10:30 a.m.), Ballet with New York City Ballet’s Sara Mearns (Saturday, July 27 at 9 a.m.), Ballet with New York City Ballet’s India Bradley (Sunday, July 28 at 9 a.m.), and Tap with Michelle Dorrance (Monday, July 29 at 9 a.m.)
Performance tickets and a full schedule of shows and events are available at VailDance.org.
