In Colorado, many people enjoy getting together for a fun night of contra or square dancing. But even if you don't pack your dancing shoes, a ballet performance or a dance festival may fulfill your need to twirl.
Colorado Folk Dancing
If a clean environment is what you're seeking, contra dancing is for you. Halls devoid of cigarette smoke and alcohol are filled with laughter, music, and dancing all over the state. Those who haven't contra danced before should pick it up quickly, as the dances are easy and a caller gives instructions before each move. Contra dancing is a form of American folk dance with two parallel lines of people filling the hall. Consisting of a sequence of moves leading each couple farther down the line, these fun-filled dances have moves similar to square dancing.
Colorado Friends of Old Time Music and Dance (CFOOTMAD) runs dances for the Boulder and Denver metro area. Almost every Friday night they host dances, be it in one of the cities or surrounding areas. Partners are not required, nor is experience. From contra to English country, ragtime to waltzes, most dances are preceded by a lesson. The purpose of these dances is to have fun and socialize.
Another forum for organized dancing is based out of Ft. Collins. The Friends of Traditional Dance, or FoTD, hopes to support and preserve traditional and old-time dance through community dances. Most of the dances organized by FoTD are held at the Ft. Collins City Park, but they use a few other venues for dancing as well. In addition to its regular schedule, FoTD puts on two annual events. Held in the spring, The Wild Asparagus Ball is a more formal, elegant affair than its fall counterpart, The Wild Goose Masquerade Costume Ball. These Viennese-style balls mostly feature waltzes and polkas, with musical accompaniment played by the Mostly Strauss Orchestra. At the Wild Goose, dancers are encouraged to wear any type of costume, as long as it's danceable. Both events commence with a Grand March for everyone to see and be seen. Go and have a ball!
Other cities that host contra dancing are: Buena Vista, Colorado Springs, Durango, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, and Westminster. Most of the dances in these cities are organized by CFOOTMAD or FoTD.
The Colorado State Folk Dance is the Square Dance, so it's no surprise that square dances are held all over the state. As in contra dancing, square dancing uses callers to lead the dancers. Instead of standing in a line, couples form squares, with each square made up of four couples. Once you know the calls, you can square dance anywhere in the country. Square dancing clubs abound in Colorado.
In Ft. Collins, the Ft. Collinaders Square Dance Club meets the second and fourth Saturday night from September through May. Not only does the club hold dances, but it hosts dance classes. Some other cities with regularly scheduled square dances are Denver, Greeley, Longmont, and Loveland. Many square dance festivals take place in Colorado as well.
Ballet, Big and Small
Colorado Ballet is Colorado's largest ballet company. Exploring all types of dance, this company is the only organization of its size to bring classical ballet to the state. In addition to their world-class productions, they perform in an astounding venue, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, located at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Opened in 2005, "The Ellie" was designed with superior acoustics and technical systems. Performing year-round at The Ellie, the Colorado Ballet's season features both well-known productions and new works.
The state's second largest professional ballet company is Ballet Nouveau Colorado. Known for its visionary style, the company mixes ultramodern choreography with classical ballet to produce cutting-edge performances. Though based in Broomfield, Ballet Nouveau Colorado performs in and around Denver as well. They produce several shows per season.
Another group with foundations in classical ballet is the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Originally formed in Aspen, the company branched out to Santa Fe as well. The company has its own distinct style with an all-embracing sense of using dance as art. From January through May, the company tours the country, with some performances in Colorado cities. In Aspen, the company's season includes performances at the Aspen Music Festival and the Aspen Dance Festival, both held in the summer.
Modern Dance and Dance Festivals
Modern dance professionals work to create exquisite and dramatic productions for northern Colorado through The Dance Connection, formerly known as the Dance Connection Performance Network (DCPN). DCPN presents two concerts a year at the Lincoln Center in Ft. Collins, a modern dance performance in October and the Northern Colorado Choreographers Showcase in March.
Students and community come together to produce amazing dance techniques at The Extraordinary Dance Summer Festival. Located at the Colorado College campus in Colorado Springs, this festival runs for three weeks in the early summer, primarily to train student dancers. Though the festival emphasizes modern dance, it also includes jazz, ballet, hip-hop, yoga/acrobalance, and Repertory. Each week features an "Informance," a combination of performance and lecture in different dance forms. The final week of the festival participants perform their own choreographed works, and there's also a gala showcase with performances by faculty, students, and guest artists.
The Vail Valley Foundation sponsors the annual Vail International Dance Festival. This festival runs for two weeks from late July through the beginning of August using the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater and the Vilar Center for the Arts as venues. These exceptional performances range from classic ballet to modern dance. Though the performers change annually, many guest artists frequent the stage, from world-class companies such as the American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet.
Colorado's dance scene runs the gamut. Whether you prefer traditional black tie events, experimental performances, or boot-stomping, skirt-swinging contra, you'll find just the right place to kick up your heels in Colorado.
Learn the history of music in Colorado.
