DanceAspen’s gala supports dancers and community outreach programs
News | Jul 12, 2026| Kimberly Nicoletti | The Aspen Times
Dancers during Behind the Curtain; the technical and rehearsal directors going through what it takes to put on a show. An ASL signer makes the event accessible.
Photographed at the city of Aspen’s Wheeler Opera House/Amanda Tipton photo
For one night only, DanceAspen’s gala at Hotel Jerome transports attendees into the extravagant, gold-and-glamour shine of Studio 54, circa the 1970s. “Dance is meant to bring people together, and few places embodied that more than Studio 54,” said Laurel Winton, DanceAspen’s executive director. “It was a space where limitations disappeared, creativity flourished and every night felt like a celebration.” As DanceAspen marks its fifth anniversary of furthering contemporary dance, the artists want to create “an evening that feels just as vibrant (as Studio 54) — full of music, movement, glamour and the incredible community that has helped us grow from an ambitious idea into the organization we are today,” she said. More than just a night full of cocktails flowing and exceptional dining followed by DanceAspen performances — as well as an open dance floor with DJ Kebi spinning tunes — the night is a reminder of what the dance company contributes to the community year-round.
DanceAspen’s initiatives have increased access to high-quality arts education, as well as live shows for kids and adults alike. Most recently, the company has presented mainstage performances at the Wheeler Opera House, including Shifting Forms, and re:imagine, as well as shows at TACAW, the Vail Dance Festival, Green Box Arts and touring engagements in Fort Collins, Crested Butte, Rifle and Gillette, Wyo. It also has commissioned and premiered new works by company artists and nationally renowned choreographers, including Princess Grace Award recipients.
From March 2025 through April 2026, DanceAspen brought education and community engagement programs to more than 3,150 people, including teachers, senior citizens and participants with special-needs across Colorado and Wyoming. That number includes 1,503 students who participated in DanceStart, the company’s free, in-school movement education program. Additionally, 1,499 people took part in masterclasses, demonstrations, free performances, outreach events and education programs.
DanceAspen’s latest offering, Behind the Curtain, launched during this time, in partnership with the Wheeler Opera House. It gives local students, kindergarten through 12th grade, a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process that goes into professional dance, inviting students to ask questions, explore movements themselves and obtain a deeper understanding of the transformative power of dance. “Research has shown that exposure to the arts can enhance cognitive development, improve social-emotional well-being and inspire lifelong creativity,” according to DanceAspen’s website. So far, 200 students have participated in Behind the Curtain.
“Through new commissions, regional touring, free and accessible programming and strategic community partnerships, DanceAspen continued to strengthen its role as a cultural leader while making world-class contemporary dance more accessible to communities throughout the region,” said Allison Walsh, managing director of DanceAspen, about this past year. The company’s vision continues to reinforce Aspen as a center for contemporary dance and education, while also extending its reach regionally, nationally and internationally.
So on July 17, dress to dazzle, and join the party at Hotel Jerome.
