It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the 36th annual Vail Dance Festival season!
Each summer, the Vail Dance Festival brings collaboration, connection, and creativity to the majestic Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. The Vail Dance Festival has become iconic to our community and to the dance world, both on a national and international level. By bringing world-class performers together and fostering unique collaborations between artists of various genres, the Vail Dance Festival pushes the boundaries of dance making and presenting, cementing Vail as a major innovation hub for new choreography and music in the United States.
Our mission continues to focus on fostering the development of extraordinary dancers, acting as an incubator for important new works, and bringing world-class dance and dance education to our community.
Your support of the Festival allows us to continue to bring high-quality, innovative, and accessible art to Vail each year. Ticket sales only represent 26% of our revenue each year, and rising costs make presenting the Festival more challenging than in years past. To those of you who are current donors, we thank you. And for those who are currently just fans, we hope you will consider joining us as a donor this year. Your support is critical to our success and sustainability.
The Vail Dance Festival has always been a place where artists and fans, dancers and dreamers, can come together, challenge each other to push the boundaries of artistic excellence and attain new heights, and explore what the best of all possible futures may hold. Whether this is your first time experiencing our Festival, or it has been part of your annual calendar for many years, we are thankful for your participation and support.
We hope you find this season’s programming invigorating, fulfilling, and captivating. We look forward to sharing another extraordinary Festival with you this summer.
Sincerely,
Sierra Adams Vice President of Philanthropy
All gifts large and small contribute to our success! Donor benefits listed below are available to donors who make a gift from September 2023 through the 2024 Festival.
VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL
GIVING LEVELS & BENEFITS
June 1, 2024
with Donor Concierge Invitation to En Pointe Party (paid event at $125/ticket)
Sparkling Brunch
Access to Borgen Family Patrons Plaza & May Gallery Patrons Lounge
Parking Pass (Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater)
*Bronze Dress Circle receives two complimentary tickets to Dance for $20.24.
If you haven't made a donation to the 2024 Festival, you can still take advantage of incredible benefits including access to daily rehearsals, invitations to the En Pointe Party and more. Donate today at vaildance.org/support or contact a member of our philanthropy team for more information.
Gifts made through a donor advised fund, IRA qualified charitable distribution, private foundations, charitable trusts or matching gifts may be restricted from receiving benefits. Please contact your tax advisor with questions.
Scan the QR code to learn more and donate today!
COLOR KEY
l PERFORMANCES
l EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
l DONOR EVENTS
l EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
l REHEARSALS
LOCATION KEY
AVON: Avon Performance Pavilion at Nottingham Park
B&G: Cross streets of Bridge and Gore
BFPP: Borgen Family Patrons Plaza at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
CR: Chasing Rabbits, Vail
EEELC: Edwards Early Education Learning Center
AMP: Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
LHV: Lionshead Village
MG: May Gallery Patrons Lounge at the Vilar Performing Arts Center
MVL: Manor Vail Lodge Piney Ballroom
SC: Social Courtyard at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
VMS: Vail Mountain School Theatre
VPAC: Vilar Performing Arts Center
GPST: Golden Peak Studio Tent
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY
���4 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Learn more at vaildance.org
† Reserved for Gold Dress Circle Donors and above, and Vail Valley Foundation Leadership Giving Circle Donors.
†† Silver Dress Circle Donors and above may attend all rehearsals. Bronze Dress Circle and Fan Club Donors are invited to four rehearsals.
* Reserved for Gold Dress Circle Donors and above, and Vail Valley Foundation Ford Founders Club Donors and above.
** Bronze Dress Circle Donors and above are invited to all three Sparkling Receptions. Fan Club Donors are invited to one.
More information for Conversations on Dance and Master Classes will be available online at vaildance.org
*Schedule is subject to change.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Friday, July 26, 7:30pm Opening Night
A dazzling opening night of spectacular performances from artists and companies featured in the 2024 Vail Dance Festival! Dance Theatre of Harlem, Limón Dance Company, Artist-In-Residence Sara Mearns, Michelle Dorrance, and ballroom duo Denys Drozdyuk and Antonina Skobina. Guest stars from New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre will join Colorado Ballet in a special performance of George Balanchine’s landmark ballet, Serenade, with Tchaikovsky’s score performed live by the National Repertory Orchestra conducted by Michael Stern.
Saturday, July 27, 7:30pm Dance Theatre of Harlem
Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) returns to the Festival in a headlining performance with a special program featuring George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland’s recent work Nyman String Quartet #2, which was hailed by the Associated Press as “highly athletic and infectiously joyous.”
Sunday, July 28, 6:00pm
UpClose: Swerve with Damian Woetzel Dance as an art form progresses through innovations and changes of direction, both sudden and gradual. Hosted by Festival Artistic Director Damian Woetzel, UpClose features dramatic "swerves" in the history of dance as shown through the works that have led this art form forward. This program features Festival stars in rehearsal and performance mode as they take on groundbreaking choreography from across centuries of dance styles from ballet and modern dance, to street styles, tap, and ballroom.
Monday, July 29, 7:30pm
Myths by Legends
In Myths by Legends, stories come to life with today’s extraordinary dancers performing works themed to myths ancient and contemporary, as choreographed by legends of the dance world George Balanchine, Marius Petipa, José Limón, and Jerome Robbins. The program will include Limón Dance Company, Jerome Robbins, Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell, and New York City Ballet’s Roman Mejia.
Tuesday, July 30, 7:30pm
Dance for ��0.24
An evening of dance at special prices, featuring Festival artists and companies and the premiere of Rhapsody by Larry Keigwin, a community work created for a diverse cast of local Vail Valley residents who will share the stage with Festival stars in a moving celebration of humanity and art-making.
Wednesday, July 31, 11:00am
Watching Dance with Heather Watts
Legendary Balanchine Ballerina Heather Watts shares an interactive exploration of dance repertory and history through live demonstrations with Festival artists. This lecture/demonstration style performance will take place at the intimate Vail Mountain School Theatre.
Thursday, July 31, 6:00pm
Dorrance Dances
*Programming subject to change. Performances take place at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, VPAC, Vail Mountain School and Avon Performance Pavilion.
A made-for-Vail tap dance experience, Dorrance Dances: An Evening with Michelle Dorrance and Friends follows the unique journey of this vital American art form in a program created, hosted, and headlined by “MacArthur Genius” Michelle Dorrance, alongside a gathering of some of the most brilliant tap dancers of today.
Thursday, August 1, 5:30pm
Dancing in the Park
Free and fun for the whole family, Dancing in the Park returns to Nottingham Park in Avon with a special early evening performance featuring Festival artists along with an energetic and interactive performance by YouthPower365’s Celebrate the Beat Celebration Team.
Friday, August 2, 7:30pm & Saturday, August 3, 5:00pm & 8:00pm
International Evenings of Dance I, II, & III
Showcasing a selection of today’s dance stars representing a wide range of styles and genres from ballet and modern to tap and street dance, these annual performances have become legendary in featuring new partnerships debuts, and daring collaborations by extraordinary artists from around the world.
Sunday, August 4, 6:00pm
Colorado Dances
Colorado Dances celebrates the dynamic community of dance in Colorado in a unique program featuring three Rocky Mountain powerhouse dance companies: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Colorado Ballet, and DanceAspen.
Monday, August 5, 7:30pm
NOW: Premieres
Closing Night
NOW: Premieres is the Festival‘s annual showcase of commissioned new works, featuring an extraordinary cast of dancers and musicians. Choreographers will include Kyle Abraham, Michelle Dorrance, Lauren Lovette, Justin Peck, Tiler Peck, Pam Tanowitz, and Artist-In-Residence Jamar Roberts.
Opening Night Reception, July ��, �:��pm
Hosted by Squash Blossom, donors are invited to join us for a pre-performance reception in the Borgen Family Patrons Plaza for complimentary appetizers and libations.
A benefit to Gold Dress Circle Donors and above and Vail Valley Foundation Leadership Giving Circle Donors. RSVP REQUIRED.
Tiny Dancer
Tea Party, July ��, ��:��am
An event for the littlest dancers with the biggest dreams. Boys and girls ages 4–7 are invited to enjoy crown and tiara decorating, a dance session, meet-andgreets with Festival dancers, snacks, and fun! TICKETED PUBLIC EVENT.
Sparkling Receptions,
July ��, ��, and August �
Dancers and donors will mix and mingle over a glass of sparkling in the Borgen Family Patrons Plaza on July 27 and on stage on July 30 and August 5 after the performances listed in the calendar. A benefit to donors at all levels.
Fan Club Donors are invited to one reception. RSVP REQUIRED.
Vail Valley Foundation Summer Donor Reception, July ��, �:��pm
A pre-performance reception to show our appreciation for your support and dedication to the Vail Valley Foundation. Join us in the Borgen Family Patrons Plaza at for complimentary appetizers and libations, hosted by Moving Mountains. Gold Dress Circle Donors and above and Vail Valley Foundation Ford Founders Club Donors and above. RSVP REQUIRED.
EVENT INFORMATION
En Pointe Party Reception, July ��, �:��pm
The party begins at the Borgen Family Patrons Plaza. Beer, wine, signature cocktails and small bites will be offered to tide us over until the En Pointe Party after the UpClose performance. Gold Dress Circle Donors and above and Vail Valley Leadership Giving Circle Donors. RSVP REQUIRED.
En Pointe Party, July ��
Join us for a special post-performance celebration to show our appreciation for your support and dedication to the Vail Dance Festival. This exciting evening has been reimagined for 2024 and will include libations, dinner, and dancing at Chasing Rabbits in Vail with some of your favorite Festival dancers. Complimentary validated 3-hour parking is provided at Solaris. Gold Dress Circle Donors and above and Vail Valley Foundation Leadership Giving Circle Donors are invited to purchase tickets to attend for $125.
TICKETED DONOR EVENT.
Conversations On Dance, July �� – August �
Join Michael Sean Breeden and Rebecca King Ferraro at Vail Mountain School*, as they interview a range of Festival artists in an intimate setting as part of their popular podcast series Conversations on Dance *July 31 Conversations on Dance will be hosted at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater Social Courtyard.
TICKETED PUBLIC EVENT.
Open House
Jamar Roberts, August 1
Sara Mearns, August 4
Join Artist-In-Residence Jamar Roberts and Sara Mearns in the Golden Peak Studio Tent for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at pieces and elements of the 2024 Festival. TICKETED PUBLIC EVENT.
Plaza
& Gallery Access 1 hr
Pre-Performance
The Borgen Family Patrons Plaza and May Gallery Patrons Lounge at the Vilar Performing Arts Center are designated for donor use on the evenings listed on the calendar. A benefit to Gold Dress Circle Donors and above and Vail Valley Foundation Leadership Giving Circle Donors.
Sparkling
Brunch, August �, ��:��am
Enjoy watching dancers take morning class from 10:00–11:15am on the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater stage, followed by brunch, socializing, and breakfast cocktails in the Social Courtyard. Gold Dress Circle Donors and above and Vail Valley Foundation Leadership Giving Circle Donor are invited to attend and will receive complimentary tickets (see page 2). Additional tickets may be purchased for $150 each. RSVP REQUIRED.
Daily Rehearsal Access, Starting July ��, �� - �:��pm
Attending rehearsals provides an inside peek into the creative process, and the dedication and determination it takes for dancers to learn new works. Daily rehearsal access from 12-5pm is available only for rehearsals at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Access is not granted for rehearsals at Vail Mountain School or the Golden Peak Studio Tent. Silver Dress Circle Donors and above may attend all rehearsals. Bronze Dress Circle and Fan Club Donors are invited to four rehearsals.
Scan the QR code for the most up-to-date information, or visit vaildance.org
For questions or additional information, please contact a member of the Philanthropy Team or email events@vvf.org.
Sierra Adams Vice President, Philanthropy sadams@vvf.org
