Vail Dance Festival
Event Details
The festival is a two-week celebration of exceptional artistry taking place in the heart of Vail in the unique setting of the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Performances include world-premieres, modern dance, classical ballet, the always popular Jukin’ and hip-hop crowd pleasers and more! Each evening is full of surprises that will delight dance enthusiasts and those along for the ride!
Tickets are available for reserved seats under the Pavilion or general admission seats on the lawn. Review our tips and tricks for the best lawn seating experience.
Vail Dance Festival | Opening Night | July 30
The Festival begins with an evening featuring appearances by Festival stars including Artist-In-Residence Calvin Royal III, and in their return to Vail after almost a decade, New York City Ballet MOVES. The incomparable company will open the Festival with Jerome Robbins’ masterpiece Dances at a Gathering, embodying the spirit of reunion and renewal as we begin to gather again as a community of artists and audiences
Vail Dance Festival | New York City Ballet Moves | July 31
A brilliant cast of dancers and musicians take the stage in these signature Festival performances. Celebrating artistic collaboration and innovation, these unique evenings feature new partnerships and role debuts by a selection of today’s premier dancers.
Vail Dance Festival | UpClose Artist-In-Residence Calvin Royal IIII | August 1
This first UpClose rehearsal-style performance for 2021 celebrates American Ballet Theatre principal dancer and Vail Dance Festival Artist-In-Residence Calvin Royal III. Hosted by Artistic Director Damian Woetzel, Royal will be joined by partners including Isabella Boylston, Unity Phelan, and Melissa Toogood, in repertory that will include works by George Balanchine, Merce Cunningham, and Christopher Wheeldon, as well as a first look at the new ballets being created for Royal this season by Tiler Peck and Jamar Roberts.
Vail Dance Festival | BalletX: Sunset, 0639 Hours | August 2
Following a sold-out performance at the 2015 Festival, Sunset o639 Hours returns to Vail for one night only. This critically acclaimed story ballet transports audiences through a poignant narrative of loss, longing, and resolution, through extraordinary choreography by Matthew Neenan, and music performed live onstage by a cabaret-style band (composed by Rosie Langabeer, Andrew Mars & The Sunset Club).
Vail Dance Festival | UpClose | August 4
In this rehearsal-style performance, audiences take a step into the dancers’ worlds through a unique behind-the-scenes look at how they prepare for International Evenings and NOW: Premieres performances. UpClose is hosted by Artistic Director, Damian Woetzel and features Festival luminaries.
Vail Dance Festival | Dancing in the Park: BalletX | August 5
The Festival welcomes Company-In-Residence BalletX to Avon for a free, family-friendly show on the outdoor stage of the Avon Performance Pavilion at Nottingham Park.
Vail Dance Festival | International Evenings of Dance I August 6
A brilliant cast of dancers and musicians take the stage in these signature Festival performances. Celebrating artistic collaboration and innovation, these unique evenings feature new partnerships and role debuts by a selection of today’s premier dancers.
Vail Dance Festival | International Evenings of Dance II – August 7, 5PM & 8PM
A brilliant cast of dancers and musicians take the stage in these signature Festival performances. Celebrating artistic collaboration and innovation, these unique evenings feature new partnerships and role debuts by a selection of today’s premier dancers.
Vail Dance Festival | NOW: Premieres
On closing night, the Festival will present an entire evening of new works choreographed by a selection of today’s most inspiring creative voices including Lil Buck with Lauren Lovette, Michelle Dorrance, Justin Peck, Tiler Peck, Jamar Roberts, Cleo Parker Robinson, and James Whiteside, with new music composed by Christina Courtin, Rhiannon Giddens, Caroline Shaw, and Tyshawn Sorey, performed by musicians including Quartet-In-Residence Brooklyn Rider.
