Each summer, the Vail Dance Festival fosters unique collaborations between artists of various dance genres to push the boundaries of the artform, establishing Vail as a major incubator for new choreography in the U.S. This year, the Vail Dance Festival celebrates the 100th world-premiere dance commission under Damian Woetzel’s visionary leadership since becoming Artistic Director in 2006. “Special cross-genre pairings of dancers from ballet, to street dance, to tap and many others are signature to what we do. This creative energy, coupled with the idyllic Summertime setting of the beautiful Colorado Rockies, makes for a truly unique experience for artists and audiences alike,” says Woetzel.
Historical Beginnings
Established in 1989, the annual Vail Dance Festival features both performance and educational elements. At its inception, the Dance Festival was a product of the extremely successful performances by the Bolshoi Ballet Academy of Moscow during the Summer of 1989 when the Vail Valley Foundation accepted the responsibility of hosting Madame Sophia Golovkina and her students for three sold-out shows at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater after their performance in Houston was cancelled. The historic Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater is a spectacular outdoor venue that seats 1,260 guests in covered seating and an additional 1,300 on its expansive grassy hillside with a breathtaking view of the Rocky Mountains.
On The Calendar
The festival, which takes place July 29-August 9, features a list of performances including: Opening Night, New York City Ballet MOVES, Ephrat Asherie Dance: “Odeon,” Limón Dance Company, Upclose, Dancing in the Park, International Evenings of Dance I, International Evenings of Dance II, DanceAspen, Now: Premieres and Dance for $20.22. In honor of the 100th world-premiere dance commission under Damian Woetzel, he says there will be a “special preview on August 8th as we stage an exciting collaboration between New York City Ballet’s resident choreographer Justin Peck and bluegrass icon Chris Thile.” Tickets are on sale now, so don’t miss out.
