Vail Valley Academy of Dance spring recital coming to Ford Amphitheater in Vail
Dancers of all ages perform at annual event that showcases styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acro dance and more
Vail Valley Academy of Dance/Courtesy photo
As the school year winds down, so does the year of learning and discovering new dance expressions, techniques and choreography at Vail Valley Academy of Dance. The dance studio, which has two locations in Edwards and in Eagle, has been working all school year on works that will be showcased at its annual spring recital at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater.
“These performances are the culmination of the dancers’ hard work throughout the year. Audiences can expect to see a variety of dance styles that tell stories, bring excitement and joy, as well as showcase the dancer’s talents,” said Ashley Calligan, owner and artistic director at Vail Valley Academy of Dance.
The audience benefits from all this hard work and creativity and get to enjoy not only classical dance but also a multitude of dance styles. With 15 teachers across both locations, these educators bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classes they teach.
“Our teachers are our lifeblood. We have grown our class offerings over the years to offer classes in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre and acro dance,” Calligan said. “With the wider class offerings, we are able to give the dancers of the Eagle Valley a more well-rounded dance experience.”
The spring production is entitled, “Under the Stars” and will be hosted at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. It blends talent and age groups, encompassing all the Vail Valley Academy of Dance students ranging in age from 3 to 18.
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“We wanted to include all our dancers in one set of performances instead of separating them. So, we have combined the two dance studios into these performances so the dancers can perform and make memories together,” Calligan said. “The amphitheater is such a beautiful venue and for some of these dancers it will mark the first time they are on this iconic stage.”
Many of the dancers at the Vail Valley Academy of Dance, like Kylie Kirkham, have literally grown up on stages across the valley. Kirkham, a senior at Vail Christian High School, has been with the programs since she was three years old.
“I am a part of the Vail Valley Academy of Dance because of the community it creates. Outside of school, it is an entirely different group of people that I get to spend time with,” Kirkham said. “Additionally, everyone bonds over the immense amounts of time and effort we put into performances which makes it such a great group to be a part of.”
“It is important for the dancers to know that they are contributing to this valley that loves and supports the arts and it’s important for our community to know that we have 320 dancers at Vail Valley Academy of Dance who are the next generations of artists,” Calligan said.
Performances are set for 6:30 p.m. on May 19, 20, and 22. Tickets are available at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater box office and online at GRFAVail.com and are $40 for general admission and free for children 5 and under. Hot drinks, sodas, beer, wine and snacks will be available at the concessions area of The Amp. As a reminder, this venue is outdoors, so dress appropriately. The Vail Valley Academy of Dance is selling fleece blankets for $5 in case you want to cozy up.
