Beau Pearson/Courtesy Photo
One of the main cultural events of the summer season, the Vail Dance Festival, a project of the non-profit organization Vail Valley Foundation, will bring together its 34e the annual season will end on Tuesday August 9th. The two-week event, which kicked off July 28, welcomed thousands of visitors to numerous events and shows in Vail, Beaver Creek and Avon.
“With 262 artists, interns, staff and volunteers from 17 states and four countries, the presentation of this world-class event is truly global in scope,” said Sarah Johnson, senior vice president of philanthropy. “At the heart of it all is the outstanding support of our generous community of donors and Vail Valley citizens who have graciously welcomed this festival and its many visitors with open arms.”
The final days of the festival will feature “Vail-only” partnerships and role debuts, plus a slate of new dance work from Caili Quan, Pam Tanowitz, Claudia Schreier, Tiler Peck, Jodi Melnick, Bobbi Jene Smith and Justin Peck.
“The spirit of creative adventure is the hallmark of our Festival,” says artistic director Damian Woetzel. “In addition to innovative new works from some of the most celebrated female choreographers working today, we will also be launching an exciting collaboration between Justin Peck and bluegrass star Chris Thile, who will perform live alongside the dancers at our last two performances this season.”
There’s even more to see and experience as the Festival draws to a close on August 9.
The remaining performances include:
International Dance Evenings II
Saturday August 6 at 5 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
503 S. Frontage Road East, Vail
Tickets: Reserved pavilion $50 – $150 | General Admission Lawn $29
Another dazzling evening of dancing continues with two performances in one night. The program for tonight’s two performances includes revivals of the Festival de 1-2-3-4-5-6 by Michelle Dorrance and Justin Peck Climb Wait Climb throughas well as performance of Gisele pas de deux with Lauren Lovette and Calvin Royal III, Jerome Robbins’ Chopin’s Three Dances performed by Devon Teuscher and Cory Stearns, when love with India Bradley and Christopher Grant, and We both performed by Sara Mearns and Robbie Fairchild. An encore of new work by Tiler Peck commissioned for the 2022 Fellows-in-Residence will also be presented during both performances.
For the 5 p.m. performance, audiences can enjoy a preview of Caili Quan’s new solo choreographed for fellow artist-in-residence Roman Mejia as well as a performance of Don Quixote pas de deux with Maria Kochetkova and Chan Wai Chun making her debut in the role.
At 7:45 p.m., audiences will see Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia in George Balanchine. Tchaikovsky Pas de Deuxby Christopher Wheeldon Liturgy performed by Unity Phelan and Chan Wai Chun, and ballroom duo Denys Drozdyuk and Antonina Skobina and a made for Vail Tea for two alongside jazz pianist Joel Wenhardt. The 5 p.m. performance is generously funded by Judy and Howard Berkowitz and the 7:45 p.m. performance by Jill and Kevin Plancher. Casting and lineup details are available at vaildance.org/event/ie2-2022-5pm/ and vaildance.org/event/ie2-2022-745pm.
DanceAspen
Sunday August 7 at 6 p.m.
Vilar Performing Arts Center
68 Avondale Lane, Beaver Creek
Tickets: $50 – $100
Making their global debut last summer, DanceAspen has grown into a new collective of professional dancers from the former Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. The company will present innovative new works from its growing and impressive repertoire, including Press PLAY by Caili Quan, Restart and at the endboth by Matthew Gilmore, For pixie and Everybody’s in St. Barth’sboth by Danielle Rowe, and Close to by Penny Saunders. Generously subscribed by Susan and Jeff Campbell. Casting and lineup details can be found at vaildance.org/event/danceaspen-2022/.
Monday August 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
503 S. Frontage Road East, Vail
Tickets: Reserved pavilion $50 – $125 | General Admission Lawn $29
An evening of entirely new works commissioned by the Festival, performed by a cast of extraordinary dancers and musicians. Signature NOW: Premieres the program includes Bobbi Jene Smith creating a new work for Sara Mearns, Caili Quan creating a new work for fellow artist-in-residence Roman Mejia, and a second new work to music commissioned by the Grammy and award-winning composer Pulitzer Caroline Shaw, Claudia Schreier to choreograph new work with music by Gonzalo Grau, Pam Tanowitz to choreograph music by Meredith Monk and Peter Sarstedt, Jodi Melnick to choreograph new work to music commissioned by Andreia Pinto-Correia, and new work by ‘Ephrat Asherie. The evening will also include a preview of new work by Justin Peck in collaboration with bluegrass artist Chris Thile (Punch Brothers, National Public Radio) who will perform alongside a cast of dancers including Robbie Fairchild, Patricia Delgado, India Bradley, KJ Takahashi, Byron Tittle, and Peck himself. The new work will also be presented on the program for the following evening, Tuesday, August 9. Generously sponsored by Gina Browning and Joe Illick. Casting and lineup details are available at vaildance.org/event/now-premieres-2022.
Dance for $20.22, closing party
Tuesday August 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
503 S. Frontage Road East, Vail
Tickets: Reserved pavilion $20.22 | General Admission Lawn $10.22
Dance for $20.22 is a rousing grand finale with special appearances from Festival stars DanceAspen and Ephrat Asherie Dance. The evening will also feature the official world premiere of the new Justin Peck and Chris Thile collaboration which premiered the night before. Generously guaranteed by the City of Vail. Casting and lineup details are available at vaildance.org/event/now-premieres-2022.
Highlights from the festival’s final event include
From Wednesday August 3 to Tuesday August 9
*Please note that the Vail Dance Festival schedule and cast are subject to change and additions
Dance Conversations
From Wednesday August 3 to Tuesday August 9
9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
Manor Vail Lodge Piney Ballroom
595 Vail Valley Drive, Vail
The popular Talk about dance podcast concludes its Vail 2022 residency with a program that includes insightful and engaging conversations with Sara Mearns and Pam Tanowitz (August 3), Caroline Shaw, Justin Peck and Johnny Gandelsman (August 5), DanceAspen (August 6), Claudia Schreier and Lauren Lovette (August 7), Lil Buck and KJ Takahashi (August 8) and Jovani Furlan (August 9). A limited number of tickets are sold for each podcast live recording session or listeners can tune in from anywhere once they go live at conversationsondancepod.com. Tickets are $25 and include coffee, tea, and pastries. Generously sponsored by the City of Vail. Ticket sales end at 8 p.m. the day before the event.
Master classes
From Wednesday August 3 to Tuesday August 9
9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Vail Mountain School
595 Vail Valley Drive, Vail
Masterclasses 2022 offer the opportunity to take classes with some of the biggest names in dance across a variety of genres. Ballet with Patricia Delgado and Hip Hop with Byron Tittle (August 3), Ballet with Calvin Royal III and Jookin with Lil Buck (August 4), Ballet with Margaret Tracey (August 5), Contemporary Ballet with DanceAspen and Ballroom Dance with Denys Drozdyuk and Antonina Skobina (August 6), Merce Cunningham Technique with Melissa Toogood and Ballet with Sara Mearns (August 7), Mindful Movement with Viki Psihoyos (August 8) and Ballet with Unity Phelan and Repertory with Lauren Lovette (August 9). Tickets are $30 each to participate. If a parent, guardian or dance instructor wishes to observe the class, an observation ticket must be purchased for $15. Ticket sales close at 8 p.m. the day before class. All classes will be taught at an advanced level and are intended for pre-professional students, unless otherwise stated on the event page. Visit vaildance.org/master-classes-2022 for more information and to purchase tickets.
FREE: Dancing in the streets
Sunday, August 7 at noon
At the intersection of Bridge Street and Gore Creek, Vail
Join breakdance artist Ephrat Asherie, tap dancer Dario Natarelli and other Festival performers in a Dance Jam for audiences of all ages and skill levels in this pop-up style performance in the heart of Vail Village .
All tickets for shows and events can be purchased at vaildance.org or via ticket office by phone at 970-845-TIXS (8497). Box office hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, visit vaildance.org.
