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Vail Dance Festival 2025
- Ashley Apple
- Jul 30
- 2 min read
A Celebration of Innovation & Artistic Brilliance
July 25–August 5 in the Vail Valley, across venues including Vail’s Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Beaver Creek’s Vilar Performing Arts Center, and community spaces in Avon.
14 standout performances spanning ballet, modern, tap, street, and cross-disciplinary dance styles, plus 30+ immersive community events onstagecolorado.com+5Discover Vail+5Real Vail+5.
Over 150 internationally acclaimed artists from companies like LINES Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, Colorado Ballet, and BalletX anchor the event Real Vail+3Discover Vail+3Real Vail+3.
Featured Events & Programs
Opening Night (July 25, 7:30 PM)A vibrant opening under the mountain sky featuring a live jam session with luminaries like Lil Buck, Michelle Dorrance, and Emiko Nakagawa, melded with pieces from LINES Ballet and modern masterworks onstagecolorado.com+6Real Vail+6Real Vail+6.
Balanchine Celebration (July 28, 7:30 PM)A one-night homage to George Balanchine, showcasing classics like Concerto Barocco, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, and Apollo, with dancers from top U.S. ballet companies Vail Dance Festival+6Discover Vail+6Vail Daily+6.
NOW: Premieres (August 4, 7:30 PM)The festival’s signature evening of all-new commissioned works from returning favorites (Melissa Toogood, Justin Peck, Bobbi Jene Smith) and festival debut creators (Robert Battle, Gianna Reisen, My’Kal Stromile) Vail Daily+5Vail Dance Festival+5Real Vail+5Real Vail+5Discover Vail+5Vail Daily+5.
International Evenings of Dance (August 1–2)Spectacular showcases pairing stars like Robbie Fairchild, Isabella Boylston, Catherine Hurlin, Roman Mejia, Tiler Peck, Sara Mearns, and street dance pioneers like Lil Buck and Michelle Dorrance Westword+8Discover Vail+8Real Vail+8.
Dancing in the Park (July 31, 5:30 PM, Avon)A free, participatory community event where Vail Valley locals dance alongside Festival artists at Nottingham Park Discover Vail+9Vail Dance Festival+9Vail Daily+9.
Artistic Vision & Highlights
Under Artistic Director Damian Woetzel, this 37th annual festival thrives on bold collaboration, mentorship, and artistic risk. New partnerships, cross-company performances, and fresh choreographic work are integral to Woetzel’s vision of building a dynamic “company” that evolves year after year.
This year emphasizes Festival debuts, both choreographically and in featured roles: expect premieres from choreographers like Robert Battle and My’Kal Stromile, and first-time local roles from American Ballet Theatre principals, Royal Danish Ballet’s Ryan Tomash, and emerging voices.
Full schedule and casting available at vaildance.org
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